Intangibles

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Chapter
3
Intangible Assets and Impairment of
Assets
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After studying this chapter you should be able to:

✔ define and distinguish intangible assets and goodwill
✔ explain and apply the recognition requirements of IAS 38 to intangible assets
✔ explain and appraise alternative treatments for purchased goodwill
✔ explain and apply the recognition requirements of IFRS 3 relating to purchased goodwill
✔ explain and apply the requirements of IAS 36 relating to impairment of assets
✔ critically appraise the effectiveness of IAS 38, IAS 36 and IFRS 3 in achieving their stated
objectives.
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Introduction
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This chapter will outline the key characteristics of intangible assets. Intangible assets are those
long-term assets that lack physical substance. However, these assets are important to a company since
they represent the right to future economic benefits. After introducing the main characteristics of
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intangible assets, this chapter will examine the reporting requirements of the international accounting
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standards relating to intangible assets.

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Section 1: Basic Principles

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When considering what constitutes an asset, the tendency is to think of physical, tangible items such as
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land and buildings, machinery, vehicles, and other such readily identifiable and definable items. These
items are normally classified as tangible fixed assets – that is, assets of a business having a physical
substance that are expected to benefit accounting periods extending more than one year.
However, in terms of the definition of what constitutes an asset, then an asset need not necessarily be
physical or tangible. Indeed, as was covered in Chapter 2, an asset is defined as a resource, controlled by
an enterprise, as a result of past events, from which future benefits are expected to flow to the
enterprise. There is no reference to the asset having physical substance.
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SECTION 1: BASIC PRINCIPLES 157
This section examines the non-physical resources that satisfy the accounting criteria for classification
as an asset, together with related accounting issues. Such non-physical resources are commonly referred
to as intangible assets.
3.1 The accounting issue involved

Accounting standards and procedures have developed to help convey to the user of the financial
statements a clearer picture of the economic reality surrounding a particular business. The problem of
how to account for intangible assets is perhaps one of the best examples, which demonstrates how
accounting information can be shown in dramatically different forms, with each form claiming to be
the economic reality.
A number of intangible assets will be dealt with. However, at this stage, the two main ones outlined
are research and development expenditure, and goodwill.
Research and development expenditure

This is expenditure undertaken by a company to develop a new product or process – for example,
developing a new piece of computer software. As noted above, the traditional view of what constitutes
an asset tends to involve the asset having physical substance. Consider the example of a company
undertaking expansion and constructing a new factory. The costs of the factory will be readily
identifiable, and there will be little argument that such costs should be capitalised and shown as fixed
assets. The factory building will be the new asset that will give benefit to the company in future
accounting periods.
A problem arises, however, when a company spends money with a view to obtaining a future
economic benefit – not, on physical assets, but on intangible assets. This problem is best explained
using a simple example.
Example
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A computer software company currently manufactures and sells its software product. The profit
statement relating to the company for the year is as follows:
Profit statement
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Sales £200,000
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Wages and salaries £200,000
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Direct overheads £100,000 ME
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£300,000
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Loss for period (£100,000)
The company is now developing a new product: a new piece of software. A team of specialist
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software engineers is being employed to write and develop the new software and, in order to have the
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product finished at an early stage, all available resources are being utilised to ensure speedy completion.
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Of the overall costs, approximately £150,000 of the wages and salaries costs and £90,000 of the direct
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overheads relate entirely to the development of the new product. The approximate costs relating to the
development of the company’s existing product are wages and salaries £50,000 and direct overheads
£10,000.
While the cost information shows all the revenues and expenses for the period, the figures do not
show the underlying reality of the situation.

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158 CHAPTER 3: INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS
The company is developing a new product – an asset – which in essence will be the same as any other
asset yielding future economic benefits. The only difference will be that this asset does not have physical
substance. Unless some adjustment or reclassification is made to the figures, it would appear that no
asset exists.
If, however, the definition of an asset is considered in terms of its constituent parts, it becomes
apparent that an asset, albeit intangible, could be created from the expenditure incurred by the
company.
That is:
䡲 the product is expected to yield future benefits
䡲 it is controlled by the company
䡲 the company has spent large sums by way of wages and other overhead expenses (the result of a
past transaction).
By applying the above criteria to the expenditure, it becomes possible to restate the profit statement
as follows:
Profit statement (restated)

Sales (old product) £200,000
Wages and salaries (old product) £50,000
Direct overheads (old product) £10,000
£60,000
Profit for period £140,000
The balance sheet would show:
Balance sheet
Intangible assets
Software £240,000
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The costs relating to the development of the new product, wages and salaries of £150,000 and direct
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overheads of £90,000 have been reclassified as intangible assets, and reallocated from the profit and loss
account to the balance sheet. Moreover, the profit and loss account once more adheres to the matching
principle whereby the expenditure relating to sales of the old product is matched with the revenue
generated from sales of that product.
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This example illustrates clearly the accounting issue involved. The picture being portrayed by simply
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classifying the expenditure as expenses is that a substantial loss is being made. The economic reality is
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that a new asset is being developed.

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3.2 The position in practice

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The problem of how to account for research and development expenditure is perhaps one of the best
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examples of how accounting information can be shown in two dramatically different forms, with each
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purporting to be the economic reality.

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A real-life example will illustrate the problem.
Example
As a newly qualified accountant, I was sent to do the audit of a software development company. In
my earlier years as a trainee I had often assisted the audit senior with the job and in that time had
established that this was a particularly profitable company.
On my arrival at the firm’s premises, however, I found the MD to be in a particularly sad state.

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SECTION 1: BASIC PRINCIPLES 159
‘I don’t know what to do,’ he said. ‘We have been developing new software, which I know will sell, but
because of the decision to concentrate on the new product, sales of our old software have fallen
dramatically. Our existing customers will buy the new product but only if we can keep going long
enough to complete it. Our accounts are showing a substantial loss, the bank is threatening to foreclose
and my family fear that we will lose our house. I would give the company away if I could.’
Taking all that the MD said on board, I asked to see the latest management accounts. They looked
exactly as he had portrayed – a substantial loss caused by falling sales and large wages costs paid to the
software developers:
Sales £100,000
Wages and salaries £100,000
Other overheads £50,000
£150,000
Loss for period £50,000
I quizzed the MD about the future potential of the new software and, although despondent about the
current situation, he felt that it would be a better seller than the existing software had been at the peak
of its popularity. It would be very profitable.
I then asked him roughly what percentage of the overhead expenses related to the development of
the new software. He advised that it was approximately 75%.
I quickly took the figures and reworked them as follows:
Sales £100,000
Expenses £25,000
Net profit £75,000
‘How would you feel if these figures were presented to you?’ I asked. ‘I’d be delighted,’ he said. ‘Indeed
– that’s roughly the profit I would expect to make on the remaining sales of the old software. How did
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you manage that?’
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The principle issue here was that the company was developing a new product – an asset – no
different from any other income-generating asset, other than that it had no physical substance. The
problem was that, on the face of it, no assets actually existed but rather all the costs were expenses and
had been classified as such.
If the definition of an asset is considered in terms of its constituent parts, however, it becomes
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apparent that an asset could be created from the expenditure incurred by the firm.
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An asset is defined as ‘an economic resource expected to yield future benefits, which is controlled by ME
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the firm and acquired as a result of a past transaction’.

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(i) A probable future benefit exists:

䡲 the MD was in no doubt the new software would sell.
(ii) Controlled by the firm:
䡲 the company had applied for licences to limit usage of the software to licence holders only.
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(iii) Past transaction:

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䡲 the company had paid large sums by way of wages and other overhead expenses.
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By applying the above criteria to the expenditure it became possible to reclassify it as an asset and
therefore reallocate it from the profit and loss account where it was causing a substantial loss, to the
balance sheet where it would increase net assets and, in the case of this company, return it to a solvent
position. The reality of the picture portrayed by simply looking at the expenses incurred for the year
was that a loss had been made. The economic reality was that a new asset was being developed. When
the accounts were eventually finalised they did show a completely different picture from the manage-
ment accounts shown to me. The bank suddenly became supportive and the MD regained the

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enthusiasm he had always shown in the past. The project was eventually completed and this proved
to be extremely successful – so successful, in fact, that the MD received an offer for the sale of his
company, which he accepted.
3.3 Goodwill
Another example of an intangible asset is goodwill. Goodwill is the excess of purchase price of a
business acquired over the fair value of the net assets. Purchased goodwill is the additional sum paid
for a business than would normally be expected for a similar business with equivalent net assets. The
additional sum is therefore related to the expected stream of additional income, and its inherent
definition effectively qualifies purchased goodwill as an asset.
Goodwill can also be generated internally. This non-purchased goodwill can arise when the
reputation of the business, or its skilled workforce or management team, enables the business to achieve
a greater income than would be obtainable without the goodwill.
If a company with non-purchased goodwill were to be sold, the amount of the non-purchased
goodwill would be determined and recognised by the acquiring company. The actual price paid would
reflect the additional earning potential of the business over and above the fair value of the net assets.
That premium would then become purchased goodwill.
Why it matters
Two types of intangible asset have been considered: research and development expenditure, and
goodwill. Both satisfy the accounting definition of an asset. Why, then, should these intangible assets be
treated any differently from tangible fixed assets?
The first reason is that a greater uncertainty surrounds the likely stream of future benefits obtainable
from intangible assets. For example, the computer software example given above may not reach its
expected sales level; with the goodwill example, the skilled workforce may resent a change in owners.
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Consequently, because of this uncertainty, the allocation of the intangibles cost to accounting periods
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can be problematic. Prudence would suggest an immediate write-off.

The second reason is that, in addition to the uncertainty surrounding the likelihood of future
benefits, a further element of uncertainty is the actual cost of acquisition. This is particularly true in the
case of research and development expenditure, where the cost of a product not only includes direct
costs but also an allocation of overheads from other areas of the business.
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Concepts in conflict
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As a result of this, a conflict arises between the prudence concept, which holds that all such expenditure
should be written off, and the matching concept, which holds that expenditure should be matched
against the income that it has generated.
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Progress Point 3.1

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A pharmaceutical company spends £500,000 on labour costs developing a new drug to combat
hair loss.
Explain, with reference to the prudence and matching concepts, how this expenditure could be
treated. Why would it be necessary to have an accounting standard governing the accounting
treatment of such expenditure?
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SECTION 2: INTERMEDIATE ISSUES 161
Solution
Labour costs are traditionally period expenses and, as such, are expensed in the income
statement in the period in which they are incurred. In this instance, there are labour costs that
have been incurred developing a new product that, if successful, could yield future economic
benefits. The prudence concept would dictate that the costs should be expensed as incurred as,
unless there was reasonable certainty of future economic benefits, it would be imprudent to
defer the expenditure to a future accounting period. This would, however, result in expenses
being £500,000 greater than they would have been had the development not taken place. The
matching concept, on the other hand, would suggest that the expenditure should be deferred
and then written off in the accounting periods in which the new drug generated sales
revenues. This treatment would more accurately reflect the company’s intention in incurring
the expenditure in the first instance (i.e. to develop a new drug). This would result in an
intangible asset being created, of £500,000.
An accounting standard is necessary to govern the accounting treatment of such expenditure as
a result of the significant differences in reported earnings between the two methods. Moreover,
given these differences, companies could, if not adequately regulated, argue the case for
capitalisation/non-capitalisation of such expenditure to manipulate reported earnings to suit
their needs (i.e. to reduce profits or to boost profits).
Summary
Assets can be classified as tangible or intangible. Intangible assets are created, as in the case of research
and development, when costs that are normally expensed in the profit and loss account are reclassified
and capitalised as assets. Goodwill is another intangible asset, which can be purchased or internally
generated.
The rationale for carrying such items as assets comes from the supposition that they will provide
positive cash flows to the business in future accounting periods. The accounting problems arise in
measuring the amount of the expenses to be capitalised and taking care not to overstate the future
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economic benefits expected to be derived from the asset.
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It can be demonstrated, however, that to ignore the fact that the expenditure satisfies the criteria for
classification as an asset can result in a misleading presentation of reported figures with understated
profits and understated net assets.
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Section 2: Intermediate Issues DI
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This section looks in more detail at the measurement and classification issues faced in accounting for
intangible assets, the problems surrounding internally generated intangible assets and, in particular, the
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important distinction and differences between capitalised research and development expenditure and
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internally generated goodwill.

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3.4 Internally generated intangible assets

Many businesses will have ongoing staff development programmes. Depending on the type of business,
this may involve staff training to ensure that individuals’ knowledge is kept up to date, or performance
is kept at a particular level. There may be ongoing product testing and evaluation, or research into new
products or production methods.

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The accounting issues arise when development goes beyond maintaining performance at a particular
level, to a situation where there is enhancement of performance. In this way a business effectively
creates the ability to earn future cash flows above their current levels. In such cases, it may be that a
new asset has been created. Unless additional accounting information relating to this expenditure on
this development is disclosed, then valuable information on the performance of the company may not
be disclosed.
When might an asset be created?

As noted above, many businesses will have some type of ongoing development programme, not
necessarily causing any accounting problems. Consider, for example, a travel agency. Travel agencies
provide personal service, and it is likely that staff training will be extensive and continuous. The
importance placed on good customer relations will be at the forefront of the travel agency’s training
aims, and will ensure that customers’ enquiries are dealt with courteously, efficiently and knowledge-
ably.
The question arises whether such staff training costs constitute the creation of an asset and so require
disclosure in the financial statements of the travel agency. There is no doubt that such qualities in a
workforce create goodwill – the problem is how to quantify it.
One way of dealing with these training costs is to capitalise them as goodwill. However, this would
result in an ever increasing goodwill figure. Moreover, the reality is that the expenditure is more than
likely to maintain good customer relations and hence maintain goodwill at its current level. Is it
possible therefore to measure the level of goodwill?
If the goodwill has been purchased as part of a business acquisition then the answer is undoubtedly
yes. The goodwill will be the excess of the price paid over the fair value of the net assets of the business
acquired. If no such purchase has taken place then the valuation of goodwill becomes more
problematic. It may be possible to have an external valuation made of the business, however such
valuations tend to be very subjective. Moreover, if the desirable characteristics of accounting informa-
tion are considered, then objectivity and reliability cast doubt on the acceptance of such a proposal.
Because non-purchased goodwill has been created but has not arisen as a result of a past transaction
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it is not recorded in the books of account. Consequently according to the accounting records it has zero
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value. It may, however, have a very real value to the business itself.
Now consider a company in the pharmaceutical industry employing scientists to research alternative
drug therapies. The work carried out by the scientists could be on a variety of levels. For example, it
may involve continuous testing of drugs currently on sale and monitoring any adverse reactions to
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them. Such tests and trials are an essential part of any ongoing analysis and it will be generally agreed
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that the costs associated with drug testing should be expensed.

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The work may involve the creation of a new drug. At the initial stages of such a project, there may be
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a high level of uncertainty as to its outcome. Any costs incurred at this early stage ought, according to
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the prudence concept, to be written off. As the research continues, the project may reach the point
where the outcome becomes more certain and the likelihood of a marketable, income-generating final
product arises.
It is at this point that any costs incurred could be considered as creating an intangible asset –
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development expenditure, and consequently capitalised. Note, however, that an element of uncertainty
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may still exist. It would only be once all the clinical trials of the new drug had been carried out
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successfully, that there would be any certainty of income. Note also that the certainty of income does
not necessarily mean the certainty of profits.
3.5 Internally generated goodwill vs internally generated

intangible assets
The above analysis has demonstrated that goodwill is something that is attached to a business,
inherently present and subject to many variables. It may have arisen through a determined course of

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action by management or simply by the determined efforts of staff to provide a quality service. One
thing that is clear, however, is that the inherent goodwill of a business could not in itself be sold.
Goodwill cannot therefore be separately identified. It is this difficulty in identifying and therefore
valuing goodwill that sets it apart from other internally generated intangible assets.
Compare and contrast this with the illustration of a development programme within a pharmaceu-
tical company. The expenditure relating to the development of a product will have been part of a
conscious management decision, and it will be identifiable and capable of measurement. It may also, on
completion, be possible to sell the product or even the rights to sell the product.
It is this distinction between the two that determines the appropriate accounting treatment of
intangible assets.
Intangible assets are dealt with by IAS 38 Intangible Assets. The next part of this chapter examines the
IAS definition of intangible assets and goodwill, and looks in detail at the conditions that must be
satisfied before expenditure can be capitalised and intangible assets created. The chapter also considers
the subsequent treatment of intangible assets following their initial recognition.
3.6 IAS 38 Intangible Assets

Objective
The objective of IAS 38 is to prescribe the accounting treatment for intangible assets that are not dealt
with specifically in another IAS. The standard requires an enterprise to recognise an intangible asset if,
and only if, certain criteria are met. The standard also specifies how to measure the carrying amount of
intangible assets and requires certain disclosures regarding intangible assets.
IAS 38 applies to all intangible assets other than:
䡲 financial assets
䡲 mineral rights, and exploration and development costs incurred by mining and oil and gas
companies
䡲 intangible assets arising from insurance contracts issued by insurance companies
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䡲 intangible assets covered by another IAS, such as intangibles held for sale, deferred tax assets, lease
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assets, assets arising from employee benefits, and goodwill (goodwill is covered by IFRS 3).
IAS 38 defines an intangible asset as: ‘an identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance’.
An asset is a resource that is controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events and from which
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future economic benefits are expected. Note that the past events need not necessarily relate to an actual
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purchase – self-creation is possible, and the future economic benefits can be reduced future costs as
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well as revenues. The importance of the IAS definition of intangible assets is the word ‘identifiable’. An
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intangible asset is identifiable when it:

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䡲 is separable, i.e. it is capable of being separated and sold, transferred, licensed, rented or
exchanged, either individually or as part of a package, or
䡲 arises from contracted or other legal rights, regardless of whether those rights are transferable or
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separable from the entity or from other rights and obligations.

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It is important to note that this definition of intangible assets excludes goodwill. Goodwill is the
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difference between the value of a business as a whole and the aggregate of the fair values of its separable
net assets.
Example
Purchase price £1,000,000

Fair value of net assets acquired £800,000
Goodwill £200,000

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The goodwill figure as calculated above is the amount that is left over after applying valuation rules to
the identifiable assets and liabilities. The goodwill figure is a residual amount and cannot be identified
separately. That is, the fair value of the net assets can be identified; the purchase price can be identified; the
goodwill, however, cannot be identified in the absence of the purchase price and the net fair value.
Goodwill can be calculated only once the other two components of the calculation are known. Conse-
quently, the provisions of IAS 38 do not extend to goodwill. Goodwill is covered instead by IFRS 3. Note,
however, that goodwill is still an intangible asset. It is just that it is dealt with in a different manner from
other intangible assets.
Examples of possible intangible assets include:
䡲 computer software
䡲 patents
䡲 copyrights
䡲 motion picture films
䡲 customer lists
䡲 licences
䡲 import quotas
䡲 franchises
䡲 marketing rights
䡲 trade marks
䡲 costs of research and development.
The purpose of IAS 38 is to distinguish between those items that qualify as assets and those that do
not. For example, IAS 38 mentions items of expenditure that it refers to as intangible resources and that
do not meet its asset recognition criteria. Such items of expenditure include:
䡲 internally generated goodwill
䡲 start-up costs
䡲 training costs
䡲 advertising costs.
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Where such items are reflected in the cost of acquiring a business, they should be included in the
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amount of goodwill on acquisition.

Intangible assets can be acquired in several ways:
䡲 by separate purchase
䡲 as part of a business combination
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䡲 by a government grant
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䡲 by an exchange of assets
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䡲 by self-creation (internal generation).

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Recognition under IAS 38

The three critical attributes that apply in the recognition of an intangible asset are as follows.
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1. Identifiability: this is necessary to distinguish an intangible asset from goodwill.

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2. Control: control is exercised by an enterprise over an asset if the enterprise:

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(a) has the power to obtain the future economic benefits flowing from the underlying resource
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(b) can restrict the access of others to such benefits; this generally results from legal rights.
3. Reliable measurement : an intangible asset should be recognised only if its cost can be measured
reliably. The asset should then be recorded at that cost.
IAS 38 requires an enterprise to recognise an intangible asset, whether purchased or self-created (at
cost) if, and only if:
䡲 it is probable that the future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the
enterprise, and
䡲 the cost of the asset can be measured reliably.

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This requirement applies whether an intangible asset is acquired externally (i.e. through purchase) or
generated internally. Additional recognition criteria apply to internally generated intangible assets, and
this is covered later in this section.
The probability that future economic benefits will flow to the enterprise must be based on reasonable
and supportable assumptions about conditions that will exist over the life of the asset. Where a
company acquires an intangible asset, whether separately or through a business combination, this
usually means that future economic benefits will flow to the enterprise.
In other words, where intangible assets have been paid for by an enterprise, it is assumed that these
intangible assets will give future economic benefits. The rationale behind this is that such assets would
be acquired only if they were going to provide future economic benefits.
Recognition criteria not met

If an intangible item does not meet both the definition of and the criteria for recognition as an
intangible asset, IAS 38 requires the expenditure on this item to be recognised as an expense in the
period in which it is incurred.
Example
Probelt Ltd is a long-established supplier of specialist seat belts to the aviation industry. Elqual Ltd, a
manufacturer of oxygen masks, has developed a product for use in aircraft in emergency situations and
requires contact in the aviation industry in order to market its new product. Probelt Ltd has agreed to
sell its customer list to Elqual for £100,000. Will the purchase of the customer list qualify as an asset in
the books of Elqual?
In order to answer this question, the constituent elements of the definition of and criteria for
recognition as an intangible asset need to be considered.
The purchase of the customer list by Elqual Ltd is:
䡲 identifiable – a distinct item has been purchased
䡲 measurable – an amount of money, £100,000, has been paid
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䡲
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likely to result in future economic benefits – IAS 38 considers the probability recognition criteria
to be satisfied for intangible assets that are acquired separately
䡲 as a result of a past transaction – the customer list has been purchased by Elqual, not self-created.
The final recognition criterion to be satisfied that would enable Elqual to recognise the customer list
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as an asset is control. As Elqual will have purchased the list then it will have control of as well as access
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to the customer base in order to derive benefits from it. The customer list will therefore be recognised ME
as an intangible asset at cost £100,000.
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Progress Point 3.2

The accountant of Antar Holdings plc, a transport company, is considering whether the
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following meet the definition of an intangible asset.

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1. Recruitment and training of the workforce: Antar Holdings has been using television
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advertising to recruit new employees and has spent considerable amounts on training.
2. Bus licence: the licence gives Antar Holdings the right to operate a bus route in the
south-east of England. The licence was granted by the government to Antar Holdings after
satisfying rigorous safety and reliability tests. The licence is not transferable.
3. Domain name: the company registered ‘ imyourbus.com’ as its domain name.
4. Advertising: Antar Holdings plc advertises heavily to promote its services.
5. Brand ‘Country-wide Cruisers’: this was purchased from a competitor.
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6. Investment: Antar Holdings plc owns the entire share capital of Kyles & Isles plc.
Required
Explain to the accountant whether the above meet the definition of an intangible asset.
Solution
1. Recruitment and training: in order for an item to be recognised as an intangible asset, a
company must be able to exercise control over the asset. It is unlikely that Antar Holdings
has sufficient control over the workforce to give access to future economic benefits. The
staff could leave. This, therefore, does not meet the definition of an intangible asset.
2. Bus licence: although the licence is not transferable, it confers a legal right to access the
future economic benefits and therefore meets the definition of an intangible asset. It may or
may not be separable, but that is not relevant due to the existence of legal rights.
3. Domain name: the domain name is registered and therefore Antar Holdings has the legal
rights to it. It may or may not be separable from Antar Holdings itself. Nevertheless, it
meets the definition of an intangible asset.
4. Advertising: although it would be expected that advertising would yield future economic
benefits (i.e. sales), there is insufficient control to give rise to an asset. Even if there was,
advertising would fail the identifiability test as it is neither separable nor does it arise from
contractual or other legal rights.
5. Brand: as this brand was purchased it is separable and meets the definition of an asset. It
can, therefore, be regarded as an intangible asset.
6. Investment: this meets the definition of an asset, albeit a financial asset. Financial assets are
outwith the scope of IAS 38.
IAS 38 and internally generated intangible assets

Inherent goodwill and research and development costs are the most common internally generated
SIC
intangible resources. Inherent goodwill, as has already been explained, does not meet the IAS 38 criteria
BA
of an intangible asset and so cannot be capitalised. There are no such restrictions on research and
development expenditure, which can, if certain criteria are met, be capitalised.
Before considering in detail the IAS requirements, it is worth revisiting the accounting issue involved.
If a company undertakes research and development expenditure, if no adjustments are made, there
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will be charges to the income statement in respect of such expenditure. These charges will reduce
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profits and reduce the net assets in the balance sheet. This may be advantageous for some companies
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since low profits may reduce shareholder pressure for dividends and make the company less attractive
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to a potential takeover bid.

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If, on the other hand, the directors are being put under pressure by the shareholders or other
financiers to show profits then the directors will wish to show a profitable income statement and strong
net asset position. This impact could be achieved by capitalising some or all of this research and
development expenditure. As has been seen, the decision whether or not to capitalise research and
ED
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development expenditure can have a dramatic effect on the financial statements, and unscrupulous
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directors may attempt to mislead users by adopting a policy of capitalising expenditure to suit their
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own ends.
IAS 38 attempts to remove these ambiguities by setting out a methodology to assess whether or not
an internally generated intangible resource meets the criteria for recognition as an asset.

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Research and development costs

IAS 38 requires any internal project resulting in the generation of a resource to the business to be
classified into two phases:
1. a research phase, and
2. a development phase.
If the distinction cannot be made, then the entire project should be considered as a research phase
and all research costs charged as expenses.
Research defined
Research is original and planned investigation undertaken with the prospect of gaining new scientific or
technical knowledge and understanding. It is highly speculative and, at this early stage, there is no
certainty that any benefits will flow to the enterprise. Given this inability to demonstrate future
benefits, IAS 38 takes a prudent approach and requires that such research expenditure be charged as an
expense when incurred and not capitalised.
Examples of research activities include:
䡲 activities aimed at obtaining new knowledge
䡲 the search for, evaluation and final selection of, applications of research findings or other
knowledge
䡲 the search for alternatives for materials, devices, products, processes, systems and services
䡲 the formulation, design, evaluation and final selection of possible alternatives for new or
improved materials, devices, products, processes, systems or services.
Development defined
Development is the application of research findings to a plan or design for the production of new or
SIC
substantially improved materials, devices, products, processes, systems or services before the start of
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commercial production or use.
Examples of development activities include:
䡲 the design, construction and testing of preproduction and pre-use prototyping and models
䡲 the design of tools, jigs, moulds and dies involving new technology
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the design, construction and operation of a pilot plant that is not of a scale economically feasible
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for commercial production ME
䡲 the design, construction and testing of a chosen alternative for new or improved materials,
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devices, products, processes, systems or services.

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Development expenditure is less speculative than research expenditure and, as the production and
sale of the product comes nearer, it becomes more predictable to forecast its future outcome. As such,
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the matching concept argues that such development expenditure should be capitalised and then
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expensed at some future date against the resulting benefits.

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IAS 38 requires (note the compulsion of the standard) that an intangible asset be recognised in
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respect of such development expenditure if the enterprise can demonstrate all of the following:
䡲 the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale
䡲 its intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it
䡲 how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits, i.e. the existence of a
market for the intangible asset or, if it is to be used internally, its usefulness to the enterprise
䡲 the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development
and to use or sell the intangible asset; this may be demonstrated by the use of a business plan

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䡲 the enterprise’s ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset
through its development, e.g. by means of its costing system.
If all the above conditions are met then IAS 38 requires that the development costs be capitalised.
The costs that are capitalised are the sum of the expenditure incurred from the date when the
intangible asset first meets the recognition criteria.
Cost includes all expenditure that is either directly attributable to generating the asset or that has
been allocated, on a reasonable basis, to the activity that gave rise to it. Expenditure that is not part of
the cost includes expenditure on selling, administration and training staff to operate the asset.
Expenditure on an intangible resource that was initially recognised as an expense in previous
financial statements (i.e. expenditure during the ‘research’ phase) should not be recognised as part of
the cost at a later date.
Finally, any expenditure that is not part of the cost of an intangible asset is to be recognised as an
expense when incurred. These points can be illustrated as follows.
Example
Bizant is a computer software developer. As part of the company’s research into ways of improving
software, the directors have identified a product that, they believe, will dramatically improve computer
processing times and, consequently, will generate significant sales and profits for the company.
Bizant maintains a detailed costing system, which indicates that expenditure incurred on the project
to date is £200,000. The directors have decided that the new product is both technically feasible and
commercially viable, and that Bizant can finance the development through to the product’s launch.
From this point up to the launch date, development costs can be capitalised as the relevant tests have
been met. The £200,000 expenditure on development costs prior to this point should have been
expensed and IAS 38 does not allow the reinstatement and capitalisation of such costs.
Internally generated brands, mastheads, titles and lists

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Brands, mastheads, publishing titles, customer lists and items similar in substance that are internally
generated should not be recognised as assets.
Subsequent expenditure
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Expenditure incurred after the initial recognition of a purchased intangible asset or after the
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completion of an internally generated intangible asset should be recognised as an expense, except in the
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rare cases where:

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it can be demonstrated that probable enhancement of the economic benefits will flow from the
asset
䡲 the expenditure can be measured and attributed to the asset reliably.
ED
Measurement subsequent to initial recognition

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An intangible asset should be carried at cost less any accumulated depreciation and (if any)
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accumulated impairment losses (the concept of impairment will be dealt with more fully later in this
chapter). Generally speaking, an asset is impaired when an entity cannot recover the balance sheet
carrying value of the asset, either through using it or selling it.

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Progress Point 3.3

Cornton plc entered into the following transactions in the year ending 31st December Year 6
1. The company had developed a new invention and has now applied for a patent. Develop-
ment work incurred a cost of £400,000 and the application for the patent cost £20,000. At
the present time the invention has no commercial market, but the company is hopeful of
finding one.
2. The company bought a patented design for a product. The patent cost £300,000.
3. A new company was acquired for £6 million. This new company has a special brand, but the
directors of Cornton were unable to place a value on it.
4. Staff training costs amounted to £120,000.
5. Cornton spent £2 million developing a new brand.
Explain how each of the above should be treated in the accounts of Cornton for the year
ended 31 December Year 6.
Solution
1. Invention and patent. This is an internally developed intangible. As no market has been
identified it fails at least one of the criteria for recognition as an intangible. This
expenditure should be written off to the profit and loss account.
2. This is a purchased intangible. Cost is known and therefore can be measured reliably. By
paying £300,000 it is assumed that benefits will be generated by the asset.
3. No reliable value can be placed on the brand so it should not be separately recognised.
4. Staff training does not meet the definition of an intangible asset. There is insufficient
control, and such expenditure is specifically required to be written off to the profit and loss
account.
5. Internal brand being developed. The standard prohibits internally generated brands from
being recognised.
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Progress Point 3.4
During the year to 31 December Year 4, a company spent £400,000 researching and developing
a new product. At 31 December Year 4 not all the criteria were met for recognising an
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intangible asset. During Year 5 all the intangible asset recognition criteria were met and a
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further £620,000 was spent on the product by the end of the year.
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How should the expenditure be treated in the accounts for the year ended December Year 4
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and Year 5?
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Solution
December Year 4
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The expenditure should be written off to the profit and loss account as the criteria has not
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been met.
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December Year 5
The expenditure of £620,000 should be capitalised as the criteria are now met. The
£400,000 written off in Year 4 remains written off, and is not credited from the profit and
loss account and added to the cost of the intangible asset.

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Revaluation model
IAS 38 allows a revaluation model to be adopted and to carry the intangible asset at a revalued amount
based on fair value less any subsequent amortisation and impairment losses. This revaluation model
cannot apply to initial recognition, which should be at cost; it can apply only after initial recognition,
(i.e. all the relevant conditions for classification as an intangible asset must have been fulfilled).
If an intangible asset is revalued, a revaluation of all the other assets in the same class should also be
carried out, except for those assets for which there is no active market. In this case these intangibles for
which there is no active market should be shown at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment
losses.
Fair value should be determined by reference to an active market. Revaluations should be made
regularly so that the carrying amount of the asset does not diverge materially from the fair value of the
asset at the balance sheet date. Such active markets are, however, expected to be uncommon for
intangible assets, although there may be exceptions to this generalisation. For example, milk quotas, taxi
licences, and airport take-off and landing slots are exceptions. If an active market is not available, the
revaluation model cannot be used.
Recognition of revaluation gains and losses

Revaluation gains (i.e. increases in an intangible asset’s carrying amount) should be credited directly to
‘revaluation surplus’ within equity, except to the extent that this gain reverses a revaluation decrease
previously recognised in the profit and loss statement. In this case the amount of the reversal is
recognised as income and as such is credited to the income statement.
Decreases in value are recognised as expenses and are charged against the profit for the year.
However, if the decrease in value is a reversal of a previous revaluation gain, the amount of the reversal
should be offset against the revaluation surplus.
The cumulative revaluation surplus may be transferred directly to retained earnings when the surplus
is realised. Realisation may occur through retirement or disposal of the asset or through the process of
using up the asset. Note, however, that the transfer is made directly in the balance sheet. The transfer
does not affect reported earnings in the year the transfer is made.
SIC
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Effect of revised version of IAS 1

The revised version of IAS 1, which took effect for accounting periods that began on or after 1 January
2009, requires that revaluation gains and losses that would previously have been shown in the statement
of equity should instead be recognised in ‘other comprehensive income’ and shown under that heading
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in the statement of comprehensive income.

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Measurement: a critical appraisal

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The standard sets out rigorous tests that require to be satisfied before intangible resources can be
classified as intangible assets. The standard also prohibits the inclusion as intangible assets of internally
generated brands, customer lists, publishing titles and other items similar in substance. It does,
ED
however, allow the revaluation of intangible assets to fair value if an active market exists.
NC
On the face of it, this seems to be reasonable. It would be imprudent and perhaps misleading to have
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items disclosed as assets that did not yield any future benefits to the company. It would also seem
reasonable to reflect the fair value of intangible assets within the balance sheet so as to convey the true
value of those intangible assets to the user of financial statements. The standard’s prohibition on
capitalising certain items as intangibles can, however, give rise to some problems. Consider the
following example.

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Example
JAR Ltd has been trading for a number of years and, over that time, has accumulated a substantial
customer list of businesses to which it sells its product. JAR Ltd has been approached by a company,
Brinley Ltd, which has a product that will complement that which JAR Ltd currently sells. JAR Ltd has
followed the requirements of IAS 38 and has not capitalised the value of its customer lists. Brinley Ltd,
however, is prepared to pay JAR Ltd £50,000 for its customer lists.
Two questions arise from this:
1. If JAR Ltd accepts the £50,000 from Brinley Ltd, how should this income be classified?
2. Given that the customer list has a ‘value’, should JAR not be allowed to capitalise it?
There is no asset in JAR Ltd’s records so there is no asset disposal. Nor can it be classified as sales
revenue. The ‘sale’ must therefore be classified as either sundry income or as gain on disposal of an asset
with no value!
The strict application of the standard may prevent a true picture being presented. By adhering to the
standard, JAR Ltd has an unrecognised intangible asset, which means its ‘value’ is unrecognised. The
exclusion of this intangible asset from the balance sheet results in a substantial asset being omitted from
the balance sheet, and so results in the loss of valuable information about the business.
While the requirements of the standard in relation to what items may or may not be capitalised are
effective in deterring inappropriate expenditure from being classified as intangible assets, strict
adherence to the standard in certain self-created intangibles can, it seems, be counter-productive.
Amortisation and depreciation

The main argument for the creation of intangible assets is that, although lacking physical substance,
they share all the same characteristics of tangible assets. As such, intangible assets are expected to yield
future benefits to the enterprise over the period of their useful lives. Consequently, the net carrying
amount of an intangible asset requires to be allocated to the profit and loss account in a systematic way
SIC
over the useful life of the asset. Such an allocation is known as amortisation. The residual value should
BA
be assumed to be zero unless:
䡲 there is a commitment by a third party to purchase the asset at the end of its estimated useful life,
or
䡲 there is an active market for the asset such that the asset’s residual value can be determined by
reference to that market.
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Useful life
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Intangible assets are classified as having either an indefinite life or a finite life, and the accounting
treatment is applied accordingly.
An intangible asset with an indefinite life (i.e. no foreseeable limit to the period over which the asset
is expected to generate net cash in flows for the entity) should not be amortised.
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An intangible asset with a finite life (i.e. a limited period of benefit to the entity) should be
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amortised.
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Intangible assets with finite lives
The cost less residual value of such an intangible asset should be amortised over the life of the asset.
The amortisation should start when the asset first becomes available for use – that is, when it is in
the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by
management.

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The amortisation method chosen should reflect the pattern of benefits derived from using the asset,
however if the pattern of benefits cannot be determined reliably then the straight line method must be
used.
The amortisation charge for each period is recognised in the profit or loss account as an expense
(unless another standard requires that it be included in the cost of another asset).
The amortisation shall cease at the earlier of the date that the asset is classified as held for sale and
the date that the asset is derecognised.
An intangible asset shall cease to be recognised:
䡲 on disposal, or
䡲 when no future economic benefits are expected from its use.
The amortisation period and method should be reviewed at least annually. If the expected useful life
of the asset is significantly different from previous estimates, then the amortisation period should be
changed accordingly. If the expected time pattern of economic benefits has changed, then the
amortisation method, too, should be changed.
In addition to all the above, the requirements of IAS 36 Impairment of Assets (covered later in this
chapter) will apply.
Example
A manufacturing company acquires a patent with a remaining legal life of ten years for the manufacture
of a particular product. Technological advances suggest that the product is likely to become obsolete in
five years.
The patent would be amortised over its five-year estimated useful life. The patent would also be
reviewed for impairment in accordance with IAS 36 by assessing at each reporting date whether there is
any indication that it may be impaired.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives

SIC
BA
Note that the term indefinite does not mean infinite. An infinite life would imply that, once purchased
or self-created, the intangible asset would yield economic benefits continuously. The term indefinite is
intended to reflect the fact, that providing the asset is properly maintained, then it will continue to yield
economic benefits.
However, the asset should not be classified as having an indefinite life if planned future expenditure
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is greater than that required to maintain the asset at its standard of performance at the time of
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estimating its useful life. In other words, if the intangible asset will require to be ‘improved’ with
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subsequent expenditure, then it should not be classified as having an indefinite life.

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An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life should not be amortised.

Instead, a review of the asset’s useful life should be carried out annually. If the findings do not
support an indefinite useful life assessment for the asset then the change in the useful life assessment
from indefinite to finite should be accounted for as a change in an accounting estimate.
ED
In addition, an impairment test should be carried out annually and whenever there is an indication
NC
that the intangible asset may be impaired. If the findings suggest impairment then this will lead to
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reductions in carrying value to the recoverable amount at the date of the impairment test.
AD
Example
A radio station acquires a broadcasting licence, renewable every five years. The licence is renewed at
little cost as long as the radio station provides at least an average level of service to its customers and
complies with the relevant legislative requirements. The licence has been renewed twice before the most
recent acquisition. The radio station intends to renew the licence indefinitely and evidence supports its
ability to do so. Historically, there has been no challenge to the licence renewal and the technology used

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in broadcasting is not expected to be superseded in the foreseeable future. The licence is, therefore,
expected to contribute to the radio station’s net cash inflows indefinitely.
The broadcasting licence would be treated as having an indefinite useful life because it is expected to
contribute to the radio station’s net cash inflows indefinitely. Therefore, the licence would not be
amortised until its useful life is determined to be finite. The licence would be tested for impairment in
accordance with IAS 36 annually and whenever there is an indication that it may be impaired.
Derecognition
Retirements and disposals
The gain or loss arising from the derecognition of an intangible asset should be the difference between
the net disposal proceeds (if any) and the carrying amount of the asset. This gain or loss should be
transferred to the profit and loss account when the asset is derecognised.
3.7 Disclosure
The disclosure requirements in IAS 38 are long and detailed, and require full information in relation to
balances, useful lives, amortisation rates and methods, any changes over the year, and any revaluations
or impairment losses.
Disclosure in practice
The required disclosures of IAS 38 Intangible Assets are usually contained in the accounting policies
note, the balance sheet and the notes to the balance sheet.
Intangible assets
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All intangible assets, except goodwill, are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and
BA
any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is not amortised and is stated at cost less
any accumulated impairment losses.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s
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interest in the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired in a business
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combination and the excess of the consideration paid for an increase in stake in an existing
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subsidiary over the share of the carrying value of net assets acquired.
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Development costs
Expenditure incurred in the development of software products or enhancements, and their
related intellectual property rights, is capitalised as an intangible asset only when the future
economic benefits expected to arise are deemed probable and the costs can be reliably
ED
measured. Development costs not meeting these criteria, and all research costs, are
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expensed in the income statement as incurred. Capitalised development costs are amor-
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tised on a straight-line basis over their useful economic lives once the related software
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product or enhancement is available for use.

Other intangible assets
Intangible assets purchased separately, such as software licences that do not form an
integral part of related hardware, are capitalised at cost and amortised over their useful
economic life. Intangible assets acquired through a business combination are initially
measured at fair value and amortised over their useful economic lives.

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The useful economic lives of the other intangible assets are as follows:
Brand names 3–5 years
Purchased computer software 3 years
Software products recognised on acquisition 3–7 years
Customer contracts and relationships are amortised over their useful economic life which
are between five and eight years, except for one contract in the international category
which has a useful life of 10 years.
This extract from Logica’s accounting policies note discloses the measurement base adopted for
intangible assets together with the types of intangible assets contained within the financial statements
and the amortisation period adopted for each of the classes identified.
Consolidated balance sheet

31 December 2007
Note 2007 2008

£m £m
Non-current assets
Goodwill 17 1,604.0 1,552.1
Other intangible assets 18 358.0 415.1
Property, plant and equipment 19 132.1 136.6
Investments in associates 20 2.4 6.0
Financial assets 21 11.0 10.1
Retirement benefit assets 38 12.0 18.7
Deferred tax assets 28 54.5 50.6
2,174.0 2,189.2
Figure 3.1 Logica: consolidated balance sheet
Intangible assets are contained within the non-current assets section of Logica’s balance sheet (Figure
3.1). The carrying value at 2007 is £358 miillion with a comparative 2006 balance amounting to £415.1
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million. Analysis of both these balances is given in note 18 to the financial statement.
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Other intangible assets
Purchased Develop- Customer

computer ment Brand contracts/ Software
software costs names relationships products Total
£m £m £m £m £m £m
Cost
At 1 January 2006 21.9 17.7 4.0 6.1 – 49.7
Additions 8.3 11.3 – – – 19.6
Acquisition of 3.3 1.5 100.0 278.4 31.9 415.1
subsidiary
Disposals (5.0) (0.8) – – – (5.8)
Exchange differences (0.4) (0.4) 0.8 2.4 0.4 2.8
At 1 January 2007 28.1 29.3 104.8 286.9 32.3 481.4
Additions 9.6 6.7 – – – 16.3
Acquisition of – – – 1.9 – 1.9
subsidaries/businesses
Disposals of (3.0) (15.6) (4.0) (6.6) – (29.2)
subsidiaries/businesses
Disposals (1.1) (0.2) – – – (1.3)
Exchange differences 3.0 0.8 7.0 19.2 2.4 32.4
At 31 December 2007 36.6 21.0 107.8 301.4 34.7 501.5
Accumulated
amortisation
At 1 January 2006 13.4 10.0 0.5 0.5 – 24.4
Charge for the year 5.8 2.6 13.1 22.9 1.6 46.0
Disposals (3.2) (0.5) – – – (3.7)
Exchange differences (0.2) (0.1) – (0.1) – (0.4)
At 1 January 2007 15.8 12.0 13.6 23.3 1.6 66.3
Charge for the year 6.4 3.0 28.6 39.8 6.3 84.1
Disposals of (2.7) (11.4) (0.8) (0.4) – (15.3)
subsidiaries/businesses
Disposals (0.9) (0.2) – – – (1.1)
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Exchange differences 1.6 0.3 2.8 4.2 0.6 9.5
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At 1 December 2007 20.2 3.7 44.2 66.9 8.5 143.5
Net carrying amount
At 31 December 2007 16.4 17.3 63.6 234.5 26.2 358.0
At 31 December 2006 12.3 17.3 91.2 263.6 30.7 415.1
Purchased computer software represented assets bought from third parties, while development costs
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represented internally generated intangible assets. Brand names, customer contracts/relationships and
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software products represented assets recognised as part of a business combination. ME
The net book values of individually material intangible assets and their remaining useful life at
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31 December 2007 were as follows:

IN
Carrying Remaining
value useful life
£m Years
WM-data brand name 36.7 1.8
ED
Unilog brand name 25.7 2.3

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Figure 3.2 Logica: other intangible assets

AD
This note to Logica’s balance sheet discloses the movements in the various classes of intangible assets
held at each balance sheet date (Figure 3.2). A columnar approach is used to assist in the disclosure of
comparative balances beginning at 1 January 2006 and showing vertically the various additions,
disposals and exchange differences in cost, accumulated amortisation and net carrying amount (net
book value).

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International differences
The UK position
Research and development expenditure is regulated by SSAP 13. This standard is very similar to IAS 38
but does not require that expenditure be capitalised if all criteria are met. Instead, it states that the
expenditure may be capitalised.
The US position
With the exception of certain software development costs, which are required to be capitalised in
accordance with FAS 86, US GAAP (FAS 2) requires all research and development costs to be
immediately expensed. In addition, while International GAAP permits the reinstatement of intangible
assets to their fair values where an active market for that type of asset exists, this treatment is not
permitted by US GAAP. US GAAP permits useful lives of identified intangibles to have a duration of up
to 40 years.
3.8 Goodwill
Goodwill can be self-generated or purchased. IAS 38 Intangible Assets deals with self-generated goodwill
and prohibits its recognition as an intangible asset within the financial statements.
The reason for this is the potential to alter reported figures. If companies were permitted to include
self-generated goodwill in their financial statements they could:
䡲 boost assets and produce a stronger balance sheet (e.g. by reducing gearing)
䡲 if the credit entry was to the profit and loss account reserve or a capital reserve in the balance
sheet, there would be no effect on reported profits, but
䡲 if the credit entry was to the income statement, this would boost the profit for the year, which
would allow the manipulation of reported profit.
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IFRS 3 Business Combinations deals with purchased goodwill. As already noted, goodwill is a residual
amount and is defined as: ‘future economic benefits arising from assets that are not capable of being
individually identified and separately recognised’.
Goodwill is the amount remaining after applying valuation rules to the identifiable assets and
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liabilities.
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Example
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£
Purchase price 1,000,000
Net fair value of assets acquired 800,000
ED
Goodwill 200,000
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Goodwill is not therefore an identifiable asset in itself, but is instead a residual amount.
Why does goodwill arise?

As noted earlier in this chapter, goodwill can arise when a skilled workforce, an efficient production
process or an established customer base results in an enterprise returning greater profits than could be
generated by another company utilising the same net assets. The cost of this self-generated goodwill is
the cost of the training, production reviews and advertising incurred in developing the business to this
particular level.

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Purchased goodwill arises when one company acquires another company in a business combination
and the purchase price paid reflects the ability of the acquiring company to earn these future
super-profits.
From the acquiring company’s point of view, this excess amount paid over the fair value of the net
assets acquired is expected to yield future benefits. The anticipation of expected future benefits
effectively constitutes goodwill as an asset in the same way as any other tangible asset that would be
expected to yield future benefits.
It is important to remember that in arriving at the purchase price of an acquisition in a business
combination, the value placed on the net assets will be the fair values and the excess is likely to have
been based upon an estimate of the future maintainable earnings of the acquiring company.
Accounting treatment of purchased goodwill: the options

There are a number of possible approaches to accounting for purchased goodwill.
(i) Carry the purchased goodwill as an asset and amortise it over its estimated useful life through the
profit and loss account. It could be argued, however, that to charge amortisation of the goodwill
figure is effectively a double charge to the profit and loss account if the goodwill itself is being
‘maintained’ by other revenue expenditure (i.e. training, advertising, quality controls).
(ii) Carry the purchased goodwill as an asset and amortise it over its estimated useful life by writing off
directly against reserves. The problem here is that, as amortisation is an expense, it ought to be
treated as such and charged to the profit and loss account, not against reserves.
(iii) Eliminate purchased goodwill against reserves immediately on acquisition. This would effectively
treat purchased goodwill in the same way as non-purchased goodwill (i.e. it solves the problem as
if the goodwill had never existed in the first place).
(iv) Retain purchased goodwill in the accounts indefinitely unless a permanent reduction in its value
becomes evident. This is acceptable if the view is taken that goodwill can be maintained, as, for
example, a building can. The costs of maintaining the goodwill are being expended as they occur
and to charge amortisation as well would be double counting. As we have seen, however, goodwill
is a variable figure and it could be argued that, over time, the purchased goodwill is being replaced
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by self-generated non-purchased goodwill.
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(v) Charge purchased goodwill as an expense against profits in the period when it is acquired. This seems
to suggest that the goodwill on acquisition will have suffered an immediate reduction in value.
This is clearly not the case as a loss in value, if at all, will take place over a longer period of time.
Moreover, the write-off is not related to the results of the year in which the acquisition was made.
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(vi) Show purchased goodwill as a deduction from shareholders’ equity (and either amortise it or carry it
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indefinitely). This ‘moves’ the goodwill down the balance sheet, reducing both net assets and, ME
correspondingly, shareholders’ funds. The figure is shown as a debit but not on the net asset side.
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Instead it is shown as a deduction from shareholders’ equity. It is the same as writing off
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purchased goodwill against reserves while implying that the goodwill remains available as a form
of asset. Ultimately, however, this treatment can be rejected as it represents the offset of a liability
against an asset, which, under certain countries’ legislation, is not permitted.
(vii) Revalue it annually to incorporate later non-purchased goodwill. This would be consistent with the
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trend towards fair value, but is highly subjective. Moreover, if self-generated (i.e. non-purchased)
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goodwill is not recognised as an asset, this treatment would, it could be argued, be inconsistent
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with the international accounting standard, particularly if, over time, purchased goodwill is
replaced by non-purchased goodwill. This treatment would also be particularly susceptible to
manipulation.
Goodwill and IFRS 3

The excess of purchase cost over the fair value of the identified net assets is the goodwill on acquisition
figure. This is positive goodwill.
Positive goodwill should be:

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䡲 recognised in a business combination as an asset

䡲 initially measured as the excess of the cost of the business combination over the proportion of the
fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired.
Goodwill acquired in a business combination should not be amortised. Instead it should be tested
annually for impairment. The impairment test may be applied more frequently in accordance with IAS
36 if events or circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Note that this treatment is
exactly consistent with the requirements for identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives.
Negative goodwill
So far the examples given have all assumed that the calculated goodwill is a positive figure. In other
words, that the payment made is greater than the fair value of the net assets acquired. It is, of course,
possible for the goodwill figure to be negative. This could happen if the price paid by the acquiring
company was less than the fair value of the tangible net assets acquired.
How can this happen?
In order to determine the purchase price, accountants will restate the individual assets and liabilities at
their fair values. These new values will then become the historical cost to the new owners of the
individual assets and liabilities recognised at the date of acquisition. Consequently, negative goodwill or,
to put another it way, a ‘bargain’ purchase, should not be possible if correct valuation procedures have
been followed. This is certainly the case if one is concerned only with the cost of the investment. The
cost of the individually identified assets and liabilities cannot exceed the cost of the business purchased.
If, however, in the assessment of the purchase price, future reorganisation costs are anticipated, then
this can give rise to the negative goodwill phenomenon. Why might it be that these future liabilities
have not been taken into account in the net fair value calculation? The reason for this is that, although
clearly quantifiable, they do not satisfy the criteria for recognition as provisions at the date of
acquisition and consequently cannot be included in the net fair value calculation. They can, however, be
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included in the calculation of what the acquirer is prepared to pay for the investment.
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Accounting treatment of negative goodwill: the options

In the same way that there are several methods of dealing with positive goodwill, negative goodwill can
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also be accounted for in a number of different ways.

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(i) If the negative goodwill arises as a result of the future expectation of losses and expenses
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identified by the acquirer in the assessment of the value of the acquisition, and can be measured
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reliably, then the negative goodwill could be included as income in the periods when the future
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losses and expenses are identified. This would certainly adhere to the matching principle, however
the measurement of future losses is likely to be problematic.
(ii) If negative goodwill arises, the acquirer could reassess the identification and measurement of the
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acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities, and the measurement of the cost
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of the combination. In this assessment there will be two types of assets and liabilities; these will be
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monetary and non-monetary. Monetary assets and liabilities are those assets and liabilities whose
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amounts are contractually fixed and as such can be excluded from the computation. This is
because, in any reassessment, these values will, by definition, be fixed. Any negative goodwill and
hence any uncertainty must therefore relate to the non-monetary items.
A possible method of dealing with the negative goodwill could be to recognise it in the profit
and loss account in the periods over which the non-monetary assets are recovered, either through
depreciation or disposal. Any negative goodwill in excess of fair values of the non-monetary assets
acquired could be recognised in the profit and loss account for the period expected to benefit.

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Example
Lanbell plc acquired its investment in Prion plc in the year ended 31 December 2009. The goodwill on
acquisition was calculated as follows:
£000 £000
Cost of investment 250
Fair value of net non-monetary assets
(remaining useful life 4 years) 400
Stock (non-monetary asset) 50
Net monetary assets 100
550
Negative goodwill 300
The negative goodwill could be accounted for as follows.

Allocated, first, against the non-monetary assets recognised through the profit and loss account for
the year ended 31 December 2009:
£000
Stock (on the assumption it is all sold) 50
Depreciation (£400,000/4 years) 100
150
Total non-monetary assets at acquisition (400,000 + 50,000) 450

150 1
Proportion recognised in year to 31 December 2009 is 450 i.e. 3
1 £100,000
Credit to profit and loss account is 3 x £300,000 =
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The balance sheet will show negative goodwill of £300,000 – £100,000 = £200,000.
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This negative goodwill will be released to the profit and loss account over the remainder of the net
assets’ useful lives, i.e. 3 years (4 years – 1 year):
1
= 3 x £200,000 = £66,667
If the negative goodwill had been greater than the fair values of the non-monetary assets acquired
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(£450,000) this could have been written off over the periods expected to benefit.
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(iii) Any negative goodwill arising could be credited to the profit and loss account immediately. ME
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(iv) A combination of (i), (ii) and (iii).

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There are a number of ways that negative goodwill could be accounted for, each with its own merits
and problems.
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IFRS 3 and negative goodwill

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IFRS 3 requires that negative goodwill should be recognised immediately in the income statement as a
gain.
However, before concluding that ‘negative goodwill’ has arisen, IFRS 3 requires that the acquirer
reassess the identification and measurement of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent
liabilities, and the measurement of the cost of the combination of the company acquired.

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Example
Horatio plc acquires its investment in Denlon plc in the year ended 31 December 2009. The goodwill
on acquisition was calculated as follows:
£000
Cost of investment 700
Fair value of net assets 900
Negative goodwill (200)
The negative goodwill figure of £200,000 is shown in the income statement for the year ended
31 December 2009 as a gain.
International differences
The UK position
Goodwill and intangible assets are regulated by FRS 10. FRS 10 does not allow the inclusion of
internally generated goodwill in accounting statements. FRS 10 permits the non-amortisation of
goodwill if it is expected to be maintained indefinitely. If the goodwill is not amortised, then FRS 10
requires that an annual impairment review be carried out. Where positive purchased goodwill is not
expected to be maintained indefinitely it should be amortised over a period not exceeding 20 years.
Negative goodwill up to the fair value of the non-monetary assets acquired should be recognised in
the profit and loss account for the periods in which the non-monetary assets are recovered, either by
depreciation or disposal. Any negative goodwill should be recognised in the profit and loss account for
the period expected to benefit.
The US position
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US GAAP now requires annual impairment reviews and prohibits amortisation.
3.9 IAS 36 Impairment of Assets

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Reference to impairment of assets has been made in this and earlier chapters.
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If an asset is regarded as being an unallocated expense (or deferred charge) then the principle of
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deferring charges to future periods means that such deferred charges appear as assets in balance sheets.
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The going concern convention assumes that there will be future accounting periods in which such
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assets can be allocated to the income statement as expenses. At an intermediate stage in this allocation
process, assets will have a carrying amount equal to the unallocated cost. This unallocated cost is more
usually referred to as the ‘book value’ and, in accounting terms, represents the value of the
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non-monetary benefit yet to be derived from the asset.

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If, however, the carrying amount of an asset is greater than the amount that will be gained from the
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asset’s use or from its sale, then to continue carrying the asset at its book value would be imprudent.
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Where the carrying amount of an asset is greater than this recoverable amount (i.e. the value in use or
the asset’s net selling price), the asset is said to be impaired. If such a situation arises, and if no action
is taken, then this would conflict with the prudence convention and could be potentially misleading to
users of the accounting statements.
IAS 36 Impairment of Assets deals with this issue. The objective of IAS 36 is to ensure that assets are
carried at no more than their recoverable amount. Where the recoverable amount is lower than the
carrying value, an impairment loss must be recognised immediately.

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Scope of IAS 36
IAS 36 applies to all assets except those that are covered in detail by other international accounting
standards. The scope of IAS 36 includes land, buildings, machinery and equipment, investment
property carried at cost, intangible assets, goodwill, investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint
ventures, and assets carried at revalued amounts under IAS 16 and IAS 38.
IAS 36 does not apply to inventories (IAS 2), assets arising from construction contracts (IAS 11),
deferred tax assets (IAS 12), assets arising from employee benefits (IAS 19), financial assets (IAS 39),
investment property carried at fair value (IAS 40), certain agricultural assets carried at fair value (IAS
41), insurance contracts assets (IFRS 4) and assets held for resale (IFRS 5).
Key definitions
IAS 36 gives a number of key definitions – many of them inter related and contained within the
definition of other key terms.
(i) Impairment: an asset is impaired when its carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.
(ii) Carrying amount: the amount at which an asset is recognised in the balance sheet after deducting
accumulated depreciation (amortisation) and accumulated impairment losses.
(iii) Recoverable amount: the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell (sometimes called net
selling price) and its value in use.
(iv) Fair value: the amount obtainable from the sale of an asset in an arm’s length transaction between
knowledgeable, willing parties.
(v) Value in use: the discounted present value of estimated future cash flows expected to arise from
the continuing use of an asset and from its disposal at the end of its useful life.
Identifying an asset that may be impaired

A review of all assets should be made at each balance sheet date to look for any indication that an asset
may be impaired. This does not mean that the recoverable amount must be determined annually in
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order to test for impairment. IAS 36 has a list of external and internal indicators of impairment. If there
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is an indication that an asset may be impaired, the recoverable amount of the asset must be calculated.
This is done using a two-stage process:
1. assess at each balance sheet date (annually) whether there is any indication that an asset may be
impaired
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2. estimate the recoverable amount of the asset if any such indication exists.
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Notwithstanding, the recoverable amounts of the following types of intangible asset should be
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measured annually whether or not there is any indication that they may be impaired:
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䡲 an intangible asset with an indefinite useful life

䡲 an intangible asset not yet available for use
䡲 goodwill acquired in a business combination.
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Progress Point 3.5

Describe what is meant by impairment. When would an impairment review be carried out?
Solution
Impairment refers to the loss of value of an asset below its book value (i.e. generally, its
depreciated cost). It is found by comparing the book value with the recoverable amount. The
recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s net selling price and its value in use.
An impairment review would be carried out when there is an indication that assets might be
impaired. If there are no such indications, there may be no reason to suspect that assets might
be impaired.
Indications of impairment (stage 1)

IAS 36 suggests that when assessing whether or not there is any indication that an asset may be
impaired, as a minimum the following indications should be considered.
External sources
䡲 Where the market value of an asset has declined significantly more than would be expected as a
result of either the passage of time or of normal use.
䡲 Where significant technological, market, economic or legal changes have occurred, having an
adverse effect on the entity.
䡲 Where market interest rate increases have a bearing on the discount rate used in calculating the
value in use of an asset, thereby decreasing its recoverable amount.
䡲 Where the company’s stock price is lower than the book value of the net assets.
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Internal sources
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䡲 Evidence of obsolescence or physical damage of an asset.

䡲 The asset is part of a restructuring or held for disposal.
䡲 Evidence that the economic performance of an asset will be worse than expected.
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If any indication of impairment exists then the second stage in process happens. Note that the move
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to the second stage is necessary only if an indication of likely impairment exists.

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Determining recoverable amount (stage 2)

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The ‘recoverable amount’ of an asset is the higher of net selling price or value in use. It follows that if
either net selling price or value in use is greater than the asset’s carrying amount, the asset is not
impaired.
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Also, if the net selling price is not obtainable because there is no active market for the asset, then the
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recoverable amount can be taken as equal to value in use. Conversely, the recoverable amount may be
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taken as the net selling price if the value in use is unlikely to differ materially from the net selling price.
It is necessary to calculate value in use only if the carrying amount is greater than net selling price.
Net selling price
The net selling price is defined as being fair value less any incremental costs directly attributable to the
disposal of the asset. If there is a binding sale agreement, the price under that agreement less costs of
disposal should be used as net selling price.

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If there is an active market for the asset, the market price should be used less costs of disposal. If
there is no active market, the best estimate of the asset’s selling price less costs of disposal should be used.
Costs of disposal are the direct added costs only. Examples of such costs are legal costs, stamp duty
and costs of removing the asset.
Value in use
The value in use of an asset is defined as the present value of estimated future cash flows expected to
arise from the continuing use of an asset and from its disposal at the end of its useful life.
The calculation of value in use is therefore likely to be more difficult. However, a detailed calculation
of value in use will not be necessary if:
䡲 the net selling price is greater than the carrying amount, or
䡲 a simple estimate is sufficient to show that value in use is higher than the carrying amount, or
䡲 value in use is lower than net selling price, in which case impairment is measured by reference to
selling price.
If value in use does have to be calculated, that calculation should reflect the following elements:
䡲 an estimate of the future cash flows the entity expects to derive from the asset in an arm’s length
transaction
䡲 expectations about possible variations in the amount or timing of those future cash flows
䡲 the time value of money, represented by the current market risk-free rate of interest
䡲 the price for bearing the uncertainty inherent in the asset, and
䡲 other factors, such as illiquidity, that market participants would reflect in pricing the future cash
flows the entity expects to derive from the asset.
Cash flow projections should be based on reasonable and supportable assumptions, and should
include projections of cash inflows from the continuing use of the asset, net of projections of cash
outflows that are necessarily incurred to generate the cash inflows and that can be directly attributed to
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the asset. The net cash flows, if any, to be received for the asset at the end of its useful life should also
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be included. The most recent budgets and forecasts should be used but they must not go beyond five
years.
Cash flow projections should relate to the asset in its current condition – future restructurings to
which the entity is not committed and expenditure to improve or enhance the asset’s performance
should not be anticipated.
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Discount rate ME
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The discount rate should be the pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value
of money and the risks specific to the asset.
The discount rate should not reflect risks for which future cash flows have been adjusted, as this
would involve double counting.
ED
For impairment of an individual asset or portfolio of assets, the discount rate is the rate the company
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would pay in a current market transaction to borrow money to buy that specific asset or portfolio.
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If a market-determined asset-specific rate is not available, a surrogate must be used that reflects the
time value of money over the asset’s life as well as country risk, currency risk, price risk and cash flow
risk. The following would normally be considered:
䡲 the enterprise’s own weighted average cost of capital
䡲 the enterprise’s incremental borrowing rate, and
䡲 other market borrowing rates.
The effect of all of the above considerations means that the appropriate discount rate may be
different for different types of asset or different circumstances within the same entity.

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Example
KPA is carrying out an impairment review of a piece of production machinery at 31 December 2009.
Budgeted information concerning net cash flows for the next three years has been provided by the
marketing department as follows:
2010 £35,000
2011 £30,000
2012 £15,000
The production director has estimated that the scrap value of the machinery would be £10,000 in
2012. KPA currently borrows at a rate of 10%.
Value in use is calculated as follows:
2010 2011 2012 Total

£ £ £ £
Net cash inflows 35,000 30,000 15,000
Scrap proceeds – – 10,000
Cash flows 35,000 30,000 25,000

Discount rate¹ 0.909 0.826 0.751
Present value 31,815 24,780 18,775 £75,370
¹ From tables: present value of £1
i.e. the value in use of the production machinery is £75,370.
Recognition and measurement of impairment losses

After all the complexities of the previous section it is perhaps worth remembering at this point what
the objectives of IAS 36 are. They are to ensure that assets are carried at no more than their recoverable
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amount. In the event the recoverable amount of an asset is less than its carrying amount, the carrying
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amount of the asset should be reduced to its recoverable amount. That reduction is an impairment
loss.
When impairment occurs, a revised carrying amount is calculated as shown in Figure 3.3.
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Revised carrying amount = The lower of

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Carrying amount OR
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Higher of
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Net selling price Value in use
Figure 3.3 Calculation of revised carrying amount

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Example 1
As part of the annual review for impairment, a company identifies a machine that, as a result of
technological advances, gives concern as to possible impairment. The machine is currently held in the
financial statements at £80,000. It is estimated that the machine could be sold for scrap for £50,000. Its
value in use has been calculated at £110,000. What value should the asset be carried at in the financial
statements?
Impairment occurs when the recoverable amount is less than the carrying amount.
The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s net selling price and its value in use. In this
illustration the recoverable amount is £110,000, (i.e. the higher of value in use and net selling price).
The recoverable amount is greater than the carrying amount of £80,000 and therefore no impair-
ment has arisen. The asset will continue to be carried in the financial statements at £80,000.
Example 2
Suppose the asset in Example 1 had a value in use of £40,000. What value should the asset be carried at
now in the financial statements?
The recoverable amount is now £50,000 – that is the higher of net selling price (£50,000) and value
in use (£40,000).
The recoverable amount is now less than the carrying amount and consequently the carrying
amount requires to be reduced to the recoverable amount:
£
Carrying amount 80,000
Recoverable amount 50,000
Impairment loss 30,000
The new carrying amount of the asset will be £50,000 (£80,000 – 30,000).
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Progress Point 3.6
Sherton plc purchased a non-current asset for £200,000 in January 2007. Sherton depreciates
non-current assets at 15% using the straight line method with a nil residual value. A full year’s
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depreciation is charged in the year of acquisition. At 31 December 2009 the net selling price of
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the asset is £98,000 and the value in use is estimated at £85,000. ME
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Required
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Has an impairment occurred and, if so, how much?
Solution
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The net book value (carrying amount) of the asset at 31 December 2009 is:
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Cost £200,000
Less: accumulated depn
Y/e 31/12/07 (15% x £200,000) £30,000
Y/e 31/12/08 (15% x £200,000) 30,000
Y/e 31/12/09 (15% x £200,000) 30,000
£90,000
Net book value at 31/12/09 £110,000

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Recoverable amount is higher of:
Net selling price £98,000

and
Value in use £85,000
i.e. Net selling price £98,000
Revised carrying amount is lower of:
Carrying amount £110,000

and
Recoverable amount £98,000
i.e. Recoverable amount £98,000
As the recoverable amount is £98,000, there has been an impairment of £12,000 (i.e. carrying
amount of £110,000 less £98,000).
Accounting for an impairment loss

An impairment loss should be recognised immediately as an expense in the income statement unless it
relates to a revalued asset where the value changes are recognised as a revaluation decrease.
If the impaired asset has been revalued, the impairment loss should be treated as a new revaluation.
If the asset is at cost the impairment loss is additional depreciation.
The corresponding credit entries depend on how the amount at which the asset is carried is
determined. If the asset is carried on a historical cost basis, the impairment loss should be included
within accumulated depreciation. If the asset is carried at market value, the impairment loss should be
included within the revalued carrying amount.
After an impairment loss has been recognised, the depreciation charge for the asset should be
adjusted to allocate the revised carrying amount, net of any expected residual value, over its remaining
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useful life.
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Cash generating units

Wherever possible, individual non-current assets should be tested for impairment. In practice, however,
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it is rare to be able to identify cash flows arising from a single asset. Often, several assets are interrelated
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in their usage in a way that makes it impossible to attribute cash inflows to each individual asset. In
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such cases, cash flows can be seen to be attributable to a collection of assets. Such a collection of assets
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is called a cash generating unit (CGU) and is defined as being the smallest identifiable group of assets
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that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups
of assets.
An example will help to illustrate CGUs.
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Example
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A company has a three-stage production process:

1. acquisition of raw materials
2. conversion of materials into components
3. assembly of components into finished products.
The company also sells raw materials, but there is no market for components.

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The first stage (acquisition of raw materials) is independent of the second and third stages.
Moreover, there is an external market for the raw materials and this price can be used for the internal
transfers. It is therefore a CGU.
The second stage is dependent upon the products being sold at the third stage because there is no
market for the components. The second- and third-stage processes should therefore be combined into
a single CGU.
The company has two CGUs: stage 1, and stages 2 and 3 combined. Once the CGU has been
identified, the recoverable amount should be calculated and compared with the carrying amount.
Allocation of impairment losses

Where an impairment loss arises, the loss should ideally be set against the specific asset to which it
relates. Where the loss cannot be identified as relating to a specific asset, it should be apportioned
within the CGU to reduce the most subjective assets first, as follows:
䡲 first, to reduce any goodwill within the CGU
䡲 then, to the other assets of the unit on a prorata basis based on the carrying amount of each asset
in the unit
䡲 however, no individual asset should be reduced below the higher of
– its net selling price
– its value in use
– zero.
The amount of impairment loss that would otherwise have been allocated to the asset should be
allocated to the other assets of the unit on a pro rata basis. The effect of this is to:
䡲 eliminate goodwill, but
䡲 to ensure that the carrying amount of any individual asset is not reduced to the extent that it
produces an amount not economically relevant to that asset.
SIC
Example 1
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An impairment review has revealed that a CGU has a value in use of £25 million and a net realisable
value of £23 million.
The carrying values of the net assets comprising the CGU are as follows:
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£000
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Goodwill 5,000 ME
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Property, plant and equipment 18,000
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Net current assets 4,000

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27,000
The review also indicated that an item of plant (included within the figure of £18 million) with a
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carrying value of £1 million had been severely damaged and was virtually worthless. There was no
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other evidence of obvious impairment to specific assets.

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Calculate the impairment loss and show how it should be dealt with in the accounts.
The impairment loss is the difference between the recoverable amount and the carrying amount.
The recoverable amount is the higher of the net selling price and value in use:
Value in use (£25 million) > net selling price (£23 million)
∴ recoverable amount is (value in use) £25 million
The recoverable amount (£25 million) is less than the carrying amount (£27 million), therefore
impairment exists:

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 33 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: 0052975D
£000
Carrying value 27,000
Recoverable amount 25,000
Impairment loss 2,000
The impairment loss should be allocated as follows:

䡲 first, against the item of plant specifically identified as being worthless, which has a carrying value
of £1 million
䡲 then against the goodwill.
Carrying Revised
value Impairment carrying value
£000 £000 £000
Goodwill 5,000 (1,000) 4,000
Property, plant and equipment 18,000 (1,000) 17,000
Net current assets 4,000 4,000
27,000 (2,000) 25,000
Example 2
A CGU has a carrying value of £190 million. An impairment review shows that the recoverable amount
is £130 million and that the intangible assets have a net realisable value of £20 million.
The assets making up the CGU are as follows:
£m
Goodwill 25
Intangible assets 45
SIC
Tangible assets 120

BA
190
Calculate the impairment loss and show how this would be allocated.
E
£m
AT
DI
Carrying value 190

ME
Recoverable amount 130

R
TE
Impairment loss 60
IN
Carrying Revised
£m £m £m
ED
Goodwill 25 (25) –
NC
Intangible asset 45 (9.5) 35.5

VA
Tangible assets 120 (25.5) 94.5

AD
190 (60) 130
The impairment loss of £60m is allocated:

䡲 first to goodwill – £25m
䡲 then to the other assets of the unit on a pro rata basis, based on the carrying amount of each asset
in the unit.

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 34 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: 8E863813
45
Intangible assets (120 + 45) × (60 – 25) = 9.5m
120
Tangible assets (120 + 45) × 35 = 25.5m
International perspective
The requirements of the UK’s FRS 11 are very similar to those of IAS 36, and compliance with the FRS
will ensure conformity with IAS 36 in all material respects. However, under FRS 11 an impairment loss
is written off in the order:
䡲 first to goodwill
䡲 then to intangible assets, and
䡲 finally to tangible fixed assets.
In IAS 36, intangible and tangible assets are grouped together.

Under FRS 11, which aims to write down the assets with the most subjective valuations first, no
intangible asset with a readily ascertainable market value should be written down below its net
realisable value.
Continuing with Example 2, this gives:
Carrying Revised
£m £m £m
Intangible asset 45 (25) 20
Tangible assets 120 (10) 110
190 (60) 130
The impairment loss of £60m is allocated:
SIC
䡲 first to goodwill
BA
䡲 then to intangible assets – but only so as to reduce them to their net realisable value
䡲 then the remainder to the tangible fixed assets.
That is, the most subjective valuation first, then the next subjective, then, finally, the tangible fixed
E
assets.
AT
DI
ME
Impairment of goodwill
R
TE
IN
Goodwill is the amount that is left over after applying valuation rules to identifiable assets and
liabilities, and comparing this value with the acquisition cost. Goodwill cannot be identified separately
so, by definition, does not generate cash flows independently from other assets or groups of assets. It
follows that the recoverable amount of goodwill cannot be determined. Consequently, if there is an
ED
NC
indication that goodwill may be impaired, the recoverable amount is determined for the cash
VA
generating unit (CGU) to which the goodwill belongs. This recoverable amount is then compared to
AD
the carrying amount of this CGU and any impairment loss is recognised.
The allocation of goodwill to CGUs

As the preceding paragraph explains, goodwill is not separately identifiable but instead forms an
integral part of CGUs.
IAS 36 requires that the goodwill on acquisition should be allocated to each of the acquirer’s CGUs, or
group of CGUs, that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination, irrespective
of whether other assets of liabilities of the acquiree are assigned to those units or groups of units.

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 35 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: D66213AA
Each unit or group of units to which the goodwill is allocated should:

(a) represent the lowest level within an entity at which the goodwill is monitored for internal
management purposes
(b) not be larger than a segment based on either the entity’s primary or the entity’s secondary
reporting format determined in accordance with IAS 14 Segment Reporting.
Where goodwill cannot be allocated to individual CGUs:

䡲 calculate any impairment of the assets (excluding goodwill) of individual CGUs
䡲 identify the smallest group or groups of CGUs (which may be the whole company) to which
goodwill can be allocated on a reasonable basis (the ‘larger’ CGU), and
䡲 then compare the recoverable amount of the larger CGU to its carrying amount (including the
carrying amount of allocated goodwill) and recognise any impairment loss.
Example
Robren pays £1,000,000 for the net assets of Henon, which at acquisition has a fair value of £900,000.
Henon has two identifiable CGUs and their relative net asset values are £500,000 for CGU A and
£400,000 for CGU B. The relative benefits expected from the CGUs are assumed to be in proportion to
their net asset values.
The goodwill of £100,000 (£1,000,000 – £900,000) would be allocated as follows:
CGU A 500,000 × £100,000 = 55,555

900,000
CGU B 400,000 × £100,000 = 44,445
900,000
The carrying values of the two CGU’s would therefore be the net asset value together with the
appropriate allocation of the goodwill on acquisition. That is:
SIC
CGU A £500,000 + £55,555 = £555,555

BA
CGU B £400,000 + £44,445 = £444,445
Progress Point 3.7

E
Malafed plc operates three department stores, which it purchased from a competitor several
AT
DI
years ago when goodwill of £2m arose. Each department store is a separate cash generating
ME
unit (CGU).
R
TE
As part of the company’s annual impairment review process, the following information at
IN
31 March 2009 is available.
Store 1 Store 2 Store 3

ED
£m £m £m
NC
Carrying amount 4.1 5.6 3.8

VA
Net selling price 3.8 6.0 2.9

AD
Value in use 4.3 5.8 3.2

It has not been possible to allocate goodwill to individual stores. The three stores form the
smallest CGU to which the goodwill can be allocated and management monitors goodwill at
this combined level.
The recoverable amount of the three stores together is estimated at £13.8m.
䊳

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 36 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: A1E77F17
Required
What impairments arise?
Solution
As the goodwill cannot be directly allocated, impairment of each individual store (CGU) is
calculated excluding goodwill.
Store 1 Store 2 Store 3

£m £m £m
Recoverable amount 4.3 6.0 3.2
(Higher of net selling price and
value-in-use)
Impairment – – (0.6)
The smallest group of CGUs to which goodwill can be allocated on a reasonable basis is the
three stores combined (i.e. the larger CGU).
£m
Carrying amount (£4.1m + £5.6m + £3.8m) 13.5
Less: impairment (0.6)
Add: goodwill 2.0
Total carrying amount 14.9

Recoverable amount of three stores combined 13.8
Impairment 1.1
Consequently, goodwill should be reduced by £1.1m (i.e. to £0.9m).
SIC
BA
Testing for impairment
IAS 36 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment annually. A cash generating unit to which
goodwill has been allocated shall be tested for impairment at least annually by comparing the carrying
amount of the unit, including the goodwill, with the recoverable amount of the unit.
E
AT
If the recoverable amount of the unit exceeds the carrying amount of the unit, the unit and the
DI
goodwill allocated to that unit is not impaired. ME
If the carrying amount of the unit exceeds the recoverable amount of the unit, the entity must
R
TE
recognise an impairment loss.

IN
The impairment loss should be allocated to reduce the carrying amount of the assets of the unit in
the following order: -
䡲 first, to goodwill allocated to cash generating unit
ED
䡲 then to the other assets of the unit on a pro rata basis, based on the carrying amount of each asset
NC
in the unit.
VA
AD
The carrying amount of an asset should not be reduced below the highest of:
䡲 its fair value less costs to sell (if determinable)
䡲 its value in use (if determinable)
䡲 zero.
The amount of the impairment loss that would otherwise have been allocated to the asset should be
allocated to the other assets of the unit on a pro rata basis. The effect of this is to initially eliminate

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 37 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: AC1D409E
goodwill, but then to ensure that the carrying amount of any individual asset is not reduced to the
extent that any amount arrived at is not economically relevant to that asset.
Example
Dupover has identified an indication of impairment and is conducting an impairment review.

Its summarised balance sheet is:
£000
Goodwill 600
Property 820
Plant 730
Net current assets 265
2,415
Share capital and reserves 2,415
The whole of the company is considered to be a cash generating unit.

The present value of the future cash flows is estimated at £1.2 million.
Assuming that the net current assets are at the lower of cost and net realisable value, and that the net
realisable value of the property is £900,000, calculate the impairment loss and prepare a revised balance
sheet for Dupover.
Carrying value £2,415,000

Recoverable amount (present values) £1,200,000
Impairment loss £1,215,000
The impairment loss is allocated as follows:

SIC
Carrying Revised
BA

£000 £000 £000

Property 820 – 820
Plant 730 (615) 115
E
AT
Net current assets 265 – 265

DI
ME
2,415 (1,215) 1,200

R
TE
IN
The allocation of the loss has been made:

䡲 first to goodwill – £600,000
䡲 then the balance to plant – £615,000.
ED
NC
No allocation of the loss has been made against the property as it has a net realisable value higher
VA
than its carrying value.

AD
Similarly, no allocation of the loss has been made against the net current assets as these are already
being carried at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 38 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: A380BA3C
Progress Point 3.8

Jackson Ltd acquired 100% of the ordinary share capital of James Ltd for £10 million on 1st
January Year 1. This figure included £960,000 for goodwill. Jackson Ltd is preparing group
accounts for the year to 31 December Year 5 and, due to a decline in the market conditions,
has decided to carry out an impairment review of the fixed assets and goodwill of James Ltd.
James operates in two distinct business areas, which are largely independent, one is services to
the oil industry and the other is the operation of a rail franchise. The following assets have
been attributed to these activities as follows:
Oil Rail
services franchise
£000 £000
Fixed assets:
Tangible 10,000 6,900
Intangible 0 1,200
All assets are held at depreciated cost. The following items have still to be allocated:
䡲 head office property with a net book value of £3,200,000; it is estimated that this can be
split 60:40 between oil and rail
䡲 goodwill – it is estimated that 75% of this relates to the rail franchise and the remainder to
oil.
The directors estimate that the rail franchise has a net sales value of £7,500,000 and oil services
a net sales value of £9,600,000.
The intangible asset in the rail franchise relates to the net book value of the operating licence
associated with the franchise. The following pre-tax cash flows have been estimated for each
CGU:
Oil Rail
SIC
Year services franchise
BA
£000 £000
6 3,000 4,200
7 2,800 3,400
8 2,800 3,400*
9 4,800*
E
AT
* The rail franchise expires at the end of Year 9 and the oil services division will be wound up
DI
in Year 9. The pre-tax market rate of return for oil services is estimated at 15% and 20% for ME
R
TE
the rail franchise.

IN
Required
(i) Calculate the total net assets for each CGU.
(ii) Calculate the value in use for each CGU.
ED
(iii) Calculate the impairment (if any) for each CGU.

NC
䊳
VA
AD

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 39 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: 1671116F
Solution
(i) Total net assets:
Oil Rail
services franchise
£000 £000
As allocated 10,000 8,100
Head office (60:40) 1,920 1,280
Goodwill (25:75) 240 720
Total net assets 12,160 10,100
(ii) Value in use:

Workings
Oil services Discount Cash flow PV

factor (15%) £000 £000
Year 6 0.870 3,000 2,610
Year 7 0.756 2,800 2,117
Year 8 0.658 2,800 1,842
Year 9 0.572 4,800 2,746
9,315
Rail franchise Discount Cash flow PV

factor (20%) £000 £000
Year 6 0.833 4,200 3,499
Year 7 0.694 3,400 2,360
Year 8 0.579 3,400 1,969
7,828
SIC
BA
(iii) Impairment:
Oil Rail
services franchise
E
£000 £000
AT
Carrying amount of net assets 12,160 10,100

DI
ME
Net sales value 9,600 7,500

R
Value in use 9,315 7,828

TE
IN
Impairment (£12,160 – £9,600) 2,560
Impairment (£10,100 – £7,828) 2,272

ED
NC
Progress Point 3.9

VA
AD
Using the same information as in Progress Point 3.8, show how the impairment of the
assets would be recorded at 31 December Year 5.
Solution
There is no indication that any specific assets are impaired. The assets are held at cost,
therefore losses go to the profit and loss account. The write-down should be treated as
additional depreciation.
䊳

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 40 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: E91FF7AB
Oil services
The impairment loss of £2,560,000 would first be allocated to the goodwill (£240,000) and
the balance to tangible fixed assets £2,320,000. Each tangible fixed asset would be written
down by 19.46% (2,320/(10,000 + 1,920):
£000 £000
Dr Profit and loss account 2,560
Cr Goodwill 240
Cr Tangible fixed assets: accum. depreciation 2,320
Being recognition of impairment loss.
Rail franchise
The impairment should first be allocated to goodwill, then to the other assets. No distinction is
made between intangible and tangible assets.
Dr Profit and loss account 2,272

Cr Goodwill 720
Cr Intangible assets 199
Cr Tangible fixed assets: accum. depreciation 1,353
Being recognition of impairment loss.
Working notes
Total impairment loss to be allocated: £2,272,000

Less: allocated to goodwill 720,000
Remaining loss 1,552,000
Remaining loss allocated on a pro rata basis based on the carrying amount of each asset in the
unit.
SIC
Carrying amount of:
BA
Tangible fixed assets
As given 6,900
Head office allocation 1,280
E
AT
8,180
DI
Intangible fixed assets 1,200 ME
R
TE
IN
Loss allocated as follows:
NBV % Remaining
loss
ED
allocated
NC
Tangible fixed assets 8,180 87.2 1,353

VA
Intangible fixed assets 1,200 12.8 199

AD
9,380 100.0 1,552
Reversal of an impairment loss

The objective of testing for impairment is to ensure that assets are carried at no more than their
recoverable amount in the financial statements. It may be the case, however, that the indicators that
gave cause for the original impairment tests – and subsequent impairment losses – now indicate that

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 41 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: 7F906B57
the reasons for the impairment no longer exist. In such a situation, IAS 36 requires that the original
impairment loss must be reversed – except where the original impairment loss relates to goodwill.
As with impairment losses, there is a two-stage process to consider:
1. whether there is any indication that an impairment loss recognised in earlier years may have
decreased significantly
2. if so, the recoverable amount requires to be calculated.
Note, however, that the impairment loss recognised for an asset can be reversed only where there has
been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount of the asset since the last
impairment loss was recognised. In other words, the unusual or extraneous factors that gave rise to the
‘extra’ drop in accounting value over and above the ‘normal’ consumption that would have been
recorded following that asset’s regular accounting treatment, no longer exist.
If this is the case, the carrying amount of the asset should be increased to its recoverable amount.
That increase is the reversal of an impairment loss. It is not simply that the recoverable amount is
higher than the carrying amount. The value of an asset in use may become greater than the asset’s
carrying amount simply because the present value of future cash flows increase as they become closer.
There is no change to the service potential of the asset. Consequently, such an impairment loss would
not be reversed.
The reversal of an impairment loss should not increase the carrying value of an asset above what it
would have been if no impairment loss had previously been recognised (i.e. after taking account of normal
depreciation that would have been charged had no impairment occurred). It follows that any reversals of
impairment losses will not tend to be as large as the original impairment loss. The new carrying value will
form the basis for the systematic depreciation of the asset over its remaining useful life.
A reversal of an impairment loss should be recognised as income immediately in the income
statement unless the asset is carried at a revalued amount under another International Accounting
Standard.
Any reversal of an impairment loss on a revalued asset should be treated as a revaluation increase.
The required process for allocating the reversal of impairment losses by cash generating units is the
reverse of the sequence required for allocating the original impairment loss.
SIC
In allocating the reversal of impairment loss for a cash generating unit, the carrying amount of an
BA
asset should not be increased above the lower of:

䡲 the recoverable amount
䡲 the carrying amount that would have been determined (net of amortisation or depreciation) had
no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years.
E
AT
DI
The amount of the reversal that would otherwise have been allocated to the asset should be allocated
ME
to the other assets of the unit, except goodwill, on a prorata basis.

R
TE
IN
Example: reversal of impairment loss
A CGU consists of a production unit with fixed assets, as shown below:

ED
NC
Carrying amount
VA
before impairment
AD
£m
Goodwill 40
Patent (no market value) 20
Tangible fixed assets 80
140
As a result of the product the production unit makes becoming obsolete, the recoverable amount of
the CGU falls to £60m.

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 42 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: D6F75337
The impairment loss is calculated and allocated as follows:
£m
Carrying value 140
Recoverable amount 60
Impairment loss 80
Carrying amount Revised

before impairment Impairment carrying amount
£m £m £m
Patent (no market value) 20 (20) –
Tangible fixed assets 80 (20) 60
140 (80) 60
The impairment loss would be allocated as follows:

䡲 first, against goodwill
䡲 then against the next subjective value – the patent that has no market value
䡲 the remainder to the tangible fixed assets.
Suppose there is a reversal of these economic circumstances because the company makes its own
technological advance and the recoverable amount of the CGU is now estimated at £90m. Had the
original impairment review not taken place, the tangible fixed assets would have been written down to
£70m (i.e. £80m less £10m depreciation).
The value of the CGU after the reversal of the impairment loss would be as follows:
Carrying amount Carrying amount

before reversal of after reversal of
impairment loss Reversal impairment loss
SIC
£m £m £m
BA
Goodwill – – –
Patent (no market value) – – –
Tangible fixed assets 60 10 70
60 10 70
E
AT
DI
Notes ME
R
TE
1. Goodwill is not restated as this is not permitted by IAS 36.

IN
2. The patent is not restated as it does not have a market value.

3. The tangible fixed assets are restated, but only up to the carrying value there would have been had
the original impairment loss not been recognised. Any uplift beyond £70m is a revaluation.
ED
NC
VA
AD

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 43 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: 8473A443
Progress Point 3.10

A CGU comprising the whole of Kidd Products Ltd became impaired because its products
became out of date and unattractive compared to those of competitors. The recoverable
amount fell to £25m resulting in an impairment loss of £15m, allocated as follows:
Carrying amount before Carrying amount

impairment based on after impairment
historic cost
£m £m
Goodwill 10 –
Tangible fixed assets 30 25
40 25
The impairment loss of £15m was recognised in the profit and loss account as the assets were
at historic cost.
After two years, the company improves its product range substantially by adding new models
and the recoverable amount of the CGU (and company) increases to £35m. The carrying
amount of the tangible fixed assets is now £23.5m. The carrying amount of these tangible fixed
assets had the impairment not occurred would have been £27m (i.e. they would have
continued to have been depreciated).
Required
How should the reversal of the impairment loss be accounted for?
Solution
The reversal of the impairment loss is recognised to the extent that it increases the carrying
amount of the tangible fixed assets to what it would have been had the impairment not taken
SIC
BA
place – that is, a reversal of £3.5m of the impairment loss is recognised in the profit and loss
account, which comprises the difference between the carrying amount of the assets following
impairment and the carrying amount of the assets had no impairment taken place (i.e. £27m –
£23.5m). The tangible fixed assets will be written back to £27m. Any uplift beyond £27m is a
revaluation. Reversal of the impairment in relation to the goodwill is not permitted.
E
AT
DI
ME
The goodwill issue arising

R
TE
IN
The rationale for prohibiting the reversal of impairment losses for goodwill can be found with reference
to IAS 38 Intangible Assets. IAS 38 prohibits the recognition of internally generated goodwill. Given this
prohibition, in theory, it would be acceptable to reverse an impairment loss relating to previously
ED
purchased goodwill if the circumstances surrounding the impairment had reversed. In practice,
NC
however, there is a practical problem in distinguishing between a reversal of a previous impairment to

VA
previously purchased goodwill, and the self-creation of new internally generated goodwill – which
AD
cannot be recognised. It is because of this danger of capitalising internally generated goodwill that the
outright prohibition of the recognition of a reversal of an impairment loss for goodwill has been
introduced.
Disclosure
The disclosure requirements of IAS 36, although extensive, are quite straightforward and require
detailed disclosure by class of assets and by segment: numerical, explanatory and background
information.

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 44 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: 2ED177CA
Disclosure in practice
The required disclosures of IAS 36 Impairment of Assets are normally included in the accounting
policies note, the income statement and the notes to the balance sheet.
Impairment of non-current assets

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units for the purpose of impairment testing. The
recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the goodwill relates is tested
annually for impairment or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might
be impaired. The carrying values of property, plant and equipment, investments measured
using a cost basis and intangible assets other than goodwill are reviewed for impairment
only when events indicate the carrying value may be impaired.
In an impairment test, the recoverable amount of the cash generating unit or asset is
estimated to determine the extent of any impairment loss. The recoverable amount is the
higher of fair value less costs to sell and the value in use to the Group. An impairment loss
is recognised to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount.
In determining a cash-generating unit’s or asset’s value in use, estimated future cash
flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects
current market assessments of the time value of money and risks specific to the
cash-generating unit or asset that have not already been included in the estimate of future
cash flows.
Logica’s policy on impairment testing is to allocate goodwill to cash-generating units. In addition the
note explains how and when impairment reviews are carried out for both tangible and intangible assets.
SIC
BA
E
AT
DI
ME
R
TE
IN
ED
NC
VA
AD

JOBNAME: 5843−McGraw−DownsBow PAGE: 45 SESS: 38 OUTPUT: Mon Nov 16 08:44:39 2009 SUM: 8987949F
Property, plant and equipment
Freehold Leashold
land and property and Equipment
buildings improvements and plant Total
£m £m £m £m
Cost
At 1 January 2006 19.3 55.9 203.4 278.6
Additions – 4.4 29.7 34.1
Acquisition of subsidiary 5.3 – 30.9 36.2
Disposals (0.5) (0.6) (22.5) (23.6)
Exchange differences (0.1) (0.7) (4.0) (4.8)
At 1 January 2007 24.0 59.0 237.5 320.5
Additions 0.1 3.1 36.8 40.0
Acquisition of subsidiaries – – 3.9 3.9
Disposals of subsidiaries/businesses (0.1) (1.5) (46.5) (48.1)
Disposals (1.8) (4.8) (32.5) (39.1)
Exchange differences 1.0 1.9 16.3 19.2
At 31 December 2007 23.2 57.7 215.5 296.4
Accumulated amortisation
At 1 January 2006 0.7 24.6 150.8 176.1
Charge for the year 0.1 5.1 27.5 32.7
Disposals (0.2) (0.3) (21.0) (21.5)
Exchange differences – (0.3) (3.1) (3.4)
At 1 January 2007 0.6 29.1 154.2 183.9
Charge for the year 0.7 5.8 33.6 40.1
Disposals of subsidiaries/businesses – (1.7) (38.2) (39.9)
Disposals (0.1) (4.1) (30.1) (34.3)
Impairment 2.6 – – 2.6
Exchange differences 0.2 1.0 10.7 11.9
At 31 December 2007 4.0 30.1 130.2 164.3
Net carrying amount
At 31 December 2007 19.2 27.6 85.3 132.1
SIC
At 31 December 2006 23.4 29.9 83.3 136.6

BA
The impairment of £2.6 million in the table above related to buildings previously occupied by the
graphic services business in Portugal prior to the disposal of this business. The disposals are
described further in Note 35.
Equipment and plant included assets held under finance leases with a net book value of £3.4
million (2006: £5.2 million). Additions to equipment and plant during the year amounting to £4.7
E
AT
million (2006: £3.1 million) were financed by new finance leases.

DI
ME
Figure 3.4 Logica: property, plant and equipment

R
TE
IN
As this extract from Logica’s property, plant and equipment disclosure note shows (Figure 3.4), there
was an impairment of £2.6 million in the year to 31 December 2007. Details are given with the PPE
note as well as a further explanation in note 35.
ED
Summary
NC
VA
AD
As with other assets, intangible assets are expected to bring future benefits to the enterprise. Internally
generated intangible assets such as employee skills and product design can bring such benefits to the
enterprise. The difficulties in quantifying the future benefits – and indeed claiming rights to the
benefits – however, prevents them from being classified as fixed assets under the Framework’s
definition. Research expenditure must be written off as incurred, however under certain circumstances,
internally generated development expenditure must be capitalised as an intangible asset.

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SECTION 3: ADVANCED ASPECTS 201
The IAS 38 definition of intangible assets excludes goodwill. Intangible assets are classified as having
indefinite lives or finite lives. Intangible assets with finite lives should be amortised over that life.
Intangible assets with indefinite lives should not be amortised but should be assessed for impairment in
accordance with IAS 36.
Internally generated goodwill should not be capitalised. Purchased goodwill should be capitalised
and not amortised. Instead it should be tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with IAS
36.
The objective of IAS 36 Impairment of Assets is to ensure that assets are carried at no more than their
recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of the net selling price or the
asset’s value in use.
The accounting treatment of goodwill and intangibles has been – and continues to be – the subject
of great debate. The next section considers what problems practitioners come up against in practice and
some of the other accounting methodologies put forward for dealing with these issues over the years.
Section 3: Advanced Aspects

This section looks in more detail at the measurement and classification issues faced in accounting for
intangible assets, the problems surrounding internally generated intangible assets and, in particular, the
important distinction and differences between capitalised research and development expenditure, and
internally generated goodwill. It will examine in more detail some of the accounting issues and
dilemmas arising from intangible assets and goodwill.
3.10 Research and development: problems in practice

In an ideal world it would theoretically be possible to clearly distinguish between the research and
SIC
development stages of particular projects; to accurately quantify the costs attributable to each stage and
BA
therefore the amounts to be capitalised; to accurately determine the future benefits; and to accurately
forecast the related pattern of benefits expected to flow from the capitalised expenditure.
The reality of the situation could not be more different.
In practice, the first hurdle of uncertainty to overcome is in respect of the viability of the project
itself. Inventors, developers and researchers tend to be notoriously optimistic about their ideas. By their
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AT
very nature, these individuals are enthusiastic about their projects and often have no real idea as to
DI
what the ultimate development costs are likely to be. They are not accountants nor do they understand ME
R
fully the information that accountants require. Furthermore, accountants are not inventors and
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IN
consequently have to rely on inventors’ assertions for estimates, timescales and future expected benefits.
There is therefore the potential for a gulf to develop between the quality of information required by
accountants to prepare meaningful figures, and the quality of the information provided by the
developers.
ED
Whenever an accountant is faced with uncertainties, a prudent approach needs to be adopted. This
NC
can result in those costs attributable to and classified as research costs being expensed for longer into
VA
AD
the project than the benefit of hindsight would more accurately determine. This means that the
development project will probably be approaching completion before future development costs can be
estimated reliably.
Once the development project has been completed, the next problem is in determining whether sales
of the product will be profitable. In many cases, the product is likely to be highly innovative and
consequently there will not be a great deal of market data available to assess its profitability. In
addition, it is possible that similar products have been developed at the same time, spelling potential
competition in the market. As the development in computers has demonstrated, high-technology

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products command a high price for only a relatively short period of time, as competitive firms develop
their own technology and drive the market price down.
Given these uncertainties, the unambiguous, prudent approach would be to write off all research and
development expenditure as it occurred. This would remove all doubt as to its accuracy and correctness
of classification within the financial statements. This approach could also be potentially very mislead-
ing. As has been pointed out, such development expenditure can meet the Framework’s definition of an
asset and therefore to not be classified as an asset can be very misleading indeed.
The difference between expensing such costs and capitalising them may mean the difference between
losses and profits, and an insolvent balance sheet and a solvent balance sheet. This potential to vary
reported figures adds a further problem for the reporting accountant. As noted above, the accountant
may have to rely very heavily on the representations made by the developers of products in his
assessment of the appropriate accounting treatment to be adopted. Desperate times may result in
desperate measures and, unfortunately, projects may be credited with greater probabilities of success
than they should be.
Do the requirements of the standard in relation to research and development expenditure satisfy user
needs? As ever, the answer to this depends on the user. The detailed disclosure requirements of IAS 38
in relation to R&D are comprehensive and if adequate detail is provided then there ought to be
sufficient information to enable a wide range of users to make economic decisions. From an enterprise’s
perspective, however, it perhaps, more importantly, allows it to present a more accurate statement of
affairs – and a more realistic reflection of its activities.
3.11 Internally generated goodwill vs purchased goodwill:

a critical appraisal
IAS 38 prohibits the recognition of internally generated goodwill. Purchased goodwill is dealt with
under IFRS 3, which states that it must not be amortised but instead requires to be subject to an annual
impairment review.
It is worth considering what purchased goodwill actually represents. IFRS 3 defines goodwill as
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‘future economic benefits arising from assets that are not capable of being individually identified and
BA
separately recognised’. Purchased goodwill is therefore the amount paid for these future economic
benefits.
As far as the acquiring company is concerned, it will be acquiring, and indeed disclosing as an
intangible asset, the purchased goodwill. As far as the acquiree company is concerned, this ‘goodwill’ is
E
not something that has simply arisen as a result of its sale. The goodwill may have been in existence for
AT
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a long time, the terms of the accounting standards prohibiting its recognition. What this gives rise to is
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effectively the same asset, but because of the terms of the IAS, the asset is unrecognised in one set of
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financial statements yet recognised in the other.

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There is, as a consequence, an inconsistent treatment for the same ‘asset’ (i.e. the goodwill). While the
reasons for not allowing the recognition of internally generated goodwill are numerous, nevertheless its
non-recognition is undoubtedly leaving a very important asset off many companies’ balance sheets – an
ED
asset that will be recognised only when a business combination occurs.

NC
If the internally generated goodwill cannot be capitalised, in order to achieve consistency, any
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purchased goodwill could be written off immediately. By doing this, however, we are in exactly the same
AD
situation. Valuable information will not be being disclosed.

The IFRS 3 requirement not to amortise goodwill also makes the treatment of goodwill inconsistent
with the treatment of other assets. Under IFRS 3, a charge is made to the income statement only when
the goodwill becomes impaired. This ‘balance sheet’ approach concurs with the Framework’s assertion
that ‘Expenses are recognised in the income statement when a decrease in future economic benefits
related to a decrease in an asset has arisen.’
This balance sheet approach can itself be open to criticism. An income statement approach would
suggest that the goodwill be written off over the period it is expected to produce benefits (i.e. it would

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SECTION 3: ADVANCED ASPECTS 203
be depreciated). Adopting a balance sheet approach to fixed assets would mean that, instead of
depreciation being charged, the assets would be written off immediately after they come into use down
to their residual values.
Adopting a balance sheet approach – and the IFRS 3 requirement not to amortise goodwill – means
that the timing of any charge to the income statement will be incorrect. A charge to the income
statement will be made when the goodwill becomes impaired (i.e. when its recoverable amount falls
below its original cost). This effectively means that when profits are being generated, and the
recoverable amount exceeds the carrying amount, no element of the original cost will be charged to the
income statement. Conversely, as soon as the goodwill, having been tested for impairment, falls below
the carrying amount, a charge will be made to the income statement to reflect the level of impairment.
This treatment results in a charge being made not when profits are being made (and the goodwill being
consumed) but instead when profits are not being made (and the goodwill has been consumed). The
treatment is therefore in conflict with the matching principle.
Is there a solution?
From what appears to be, on first consideration, an impossible task, the solution to the problems of the
inconsistency of treatment between internally generated goodwill, and purchased goodwill, and the
subsequent problem of measurement after initial recognition, may actually be quite simple.
In arriving at the solution, the objectives of financial statements need to be considered. The
objectives of financial statements are to provide information about a firm that is useful to a wide range
of people making economic decisions. ‘Useful information’ is information on a company’s financial
position, performance and liquidity.
The constraints imposed by the standards on what information is presented within traditional
financial statements results in the problems detailed above. What is required therefore is an extension to
traditional financial statements to allow additional information to be presented in a manner that will
remove the lack of comparability caused by the prohibition of capitalising internally generated goodwill
and the subjective problem of its subsequent write-off.
SIC
A possible solution
BA
Given the difficulty – indeed the impossibility – of arriving at a meaningful figure for goodwill in the
traditional financial statements (i.e. profit and loss account and balance sheet), all goodwill should be
written off immediately. Then, in a new separate statement, companies could summarise the current
E
values of the individual assets and liabilities recognised in the balance sheet and, in addition, provide an
AT
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estimate of the valuation of the business as a whole – perhaps based on its market capitalisation. In
ME
other words, companies could use the IFRS 3 definition of goodwill to actually try to disclose it – that
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goodwill figure being the difference between the market capitalisation and the current values of net
IN
assets.
The benefits of such an approach are numerous and varied. It removes the problem of distinguishing
between purchased and self-generated goodwill, particularly over time. If an efficient market exists then
a company’s share price will reflect all information relevant to it. This will effectively discount the total
ED
NC
goodwill. The fact that no distinction is made between purchased and self-generated goodwill is
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arguably not relevant. Indeed, a year-on-year comparison would show any changes and deeper
AD
investigation made at that point. This treatment also addresses the fungible nature of goodwill – that is,
it is not a constant, the constituent ‘parts’ will vary and the level of purchased/self-generated goodwill
will fluctuate over time.
More importantly, however, it addresses many of the issues arising in respect of providing useful
information. At the moment there are two extremes: companies with inherent goodwill that is not
being disclosed and companies with purchased goodwill that may or may not be carried at the correct
amount. This treatment allows a greater level of analysis to be made and arguably discloses a greater
wealth of information about a company. For example, if using market capitalisation as a benchmark
results in a company displaying a high level of goodwill, this could be an indicator of high efficiency.

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Changes over time could indicate improvements or highlight potential problems. Conversely, low levels
of goodwill could be indicators of poor efficiency and under-utilisation of resources.
This is not a perfect solution to the goodwill issue. Depending on the size of the company, market
capitalisation data may not be available. Indeed, for smaller companies whose shares are not actively
traded, there will be no such data at all. The method of calculation would, however, be apparent and
the resulting information presented would be no more misleading than that which is currently being
disclosed by following existing standards’ requirements.
3.12 Brand accounting

A brand is the registered trade mark of a particular product. Some examples of companies whose
names are brands are Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola and Microsoft. Brand accounting refers to the practice
of including, as separate fixed assets, the amount attributable to brands and including them with the
fair values of other identifiable assets acquired.
Prior to IAS 38, brand accounting emerged for two main reasons.
First, if brand values were included with the fair values of other identifiable assets acquired, this
would mean that the amount of the purchase price attributable to goodwill (i.e. the premium over the
fair value of net assets) would be reduced:
Goodwill = purchase price – fair value of net assets acquired including brands
Reducing the goodwill figure had a two-fold effect:
1. it reduced the charge to the income statement in respect of the amortisation of the goodwill, and
2. there was no income statement charge in respect of the brand, as brands were not usually amortised.
Second, non-acquisitive companies that created self-generated brands argued that their balance
sheets would be strengthened if they were permitted to include a valuation of these brands.
The IAS 38 treatment of brands is, however, very clear:
䡲 internally generated brands are not to be recognised as assets
䡲 brands acquired in a business combination are not considered to be separately identifiable assets,
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and are thus part of goodwill.

BA
Conclusion
The current requirements of IAS 38 and IFRS 3 can result in valuable information being omitted from
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company balance sheets. The failure to recognise internally generated goodwill and other intangible
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assets means that the value of those assets is excluded from the traditional financial statements.
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A solution to this problem has been put forward in the form of an extension to the traditional
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accounting statements to include an attempt at an objective goodwill calculation with reference to

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market capitalisation and valuations of current net assets in the balance sheet.
The provision of useful information to a wide range of users, to enable economic decisions to be
made, is not being achieved by following the current standards’ requirements. As historical analysis
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shows, over the years firms have been aware of the values of their intangible assets. Brand accounting
NC
developed as a mechanism to detach the value of brands from goodwill, and hence strengthen balance
VA
sheets and reduce charges to the income statement. Expect further revision to these standards.
AD

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CHAPTER SUMMARY 205
Chapter summary
IAS 38 Intangible Assets
䡲 Intangible assets should be recognised where it is:
(i) probable that future economic benefits will flow to the enterprise, and
(ii) cost can be measured reliably.
䡲 All research costs should be charged as expenses.
䡲 Development costs are capitalised only after the technical and commercial feasibility of
the asset for sale or use has been established.
䡲 Costs treated as expenses cannot subsequently be capitalised.
䡲 Brands, mastheads, publishing titles, customer lists and items similar in substance that
are internally generated should not be recognised as assets.
䡲 Internally generated goodwill must not be capitalised.
䡲 Initial measurement should be at cost.
䡲 Subsequently, IAS 38 permits two accounting models:
– cost model – intangible assets should be carried at cost less any amortisation and
impairment losses
– revaluation model – intangible assets for which there is an active market can be
carried at fair value.
䡲 Revaluation increases are credited directly to reserves unless reversing a previous charge
to income.
䡲 Decreases in valuation should be charged to income unless reversing a previous credit to
reserves.
䡲 Intangible assets are classified as having a:
(i) finite life – a limited period of benefit to the entity, or an
(ii) indefinite life – no foreseeable limit to the period over which the asset is expected to
generate net cash inflows for the entity.
䡲 Intangible assets with finite lives should be amortised over the life of the asset.
– the amortisation period and amortisation method should be reviewed at least
annually
– the asset should also be assessed for impairment in accordance with IAS 36.
䡲 An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life should not be amortised:
– a review of the asset’s useful life should be carried out annually
– the asset should also be assessed for impairment in accordance with IAS 36.
IAS 36 Impairment of Assets

䡲 Enterprises are required to check at each balance sheet date whether there are any
indications of impairment.
䡲 If an indication, external or internal, of impairment exists, the assets recoverable amount
must be calculated.
䡲 The recoverable amounts of the following types of intangible assets should be measured
annually:
– an intangible asset with an indefinite useful life
– an intangible asset not yet available for use
– goodwill acquired in a business combination.
䡲 The recoverable amount should be determined for the individual asset if possible.
䡲 If it is not possible to determine the recoverable amount for the individual asset, the
recoverable amount for the asset’s cash generating unit (CGU) should be determined.
䡲 An impairment loss should be recognised whenever recoverable amount is below
carrying amount.

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䡲 The impairment loss should be recognised immediately as an expense in the income

statement unless it relates to a revalued asset where the value changes are recognised as a
revaluation decrease.
䡲 Where an impairment loss arises, the loss should ideally be set against the specific asset to
which it relates.
䡲 Where the loss cannot be identified as relating to a specific asset, it should be allocated to
reduce the carrying amount of the assets of the CGU in the following order:
– first to reduce any goodwill within the CGU
– then, to the other assets of the unit on a pro rata basis, based on the carrying
amount of each asset in the unit.
䡲 The carrying amount of an asset should not be reduced below the highest of:
– its fair value less costs to sell
– its value in use
– zero.
䡲 If the preceding rule is applied, further allocation of the impairment loss is made pro rata
to the other assets of the unit.
䡲 Impairment losses should be reversed under certain circumstances. Enterprises should
assess at each balance sheet date whether there is an indication that an impairment loss may
have decreased. If so, the recoverable amount should be calculated.
䡲 The increased carrying amount due to reversal should not be more than the depreciated
historical cost would have been had the impairment not been recognised.
䡲 Reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income in the income statement unless the
asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case it should be treated as a revaluation
increase.
䡲 Reversal of an impairment loss for goodwill is prohibited.
Key terms for review

Definitions can be found in the glossary at the end of the book.
Asset Carrying amount
Intangible asset Costs of disposal
Research Value in use
Development Impairment loss
Cost Recoverable amount
Fair value (of an asset) Cash generating unit
Amortisation Fair value less costs to sell
Useful life
Review questions
1. In connection with IAS 38 Intangible Assets:
(a) distinguish between research expenditure and development expenditure
(b) explain the accounting treatment required by IAS 38 in relation to each of these types of
expenditure.
2. Give some examples of intangible assets that are unlikely to be included in financial statements,
and the reason for their exclusion.
3. What is goodwill, and how does it arise?
4. Explain the requirements of IFRS 3 in relation to goodwill.
5. Define the term impairment loss.
6. List the main indications which would suggest that an asset might be impaired.

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EXERCISES 207
7. Which assets must always be tested for impairment even though there are no indications that
impairment has occurred?
8. What is the recoverable amount of an asset?
Exercises
1. Level II
The following information relates to Entrepreneurial Enterprises plc.
(i) Purchased a brand in 1992 for £2 million. The directors believe the brand is now worth £7
million.
(ii) Acquired a patent in January 2004, with ten years left to run, for £350,000.
(iii) Bought a fishing quota to catch 1,000 tonnes of fish for £1,000 per tonne on 1 January 2009. The
market value for the quota, for which there is an active market, was £1,400 per tonne on
31 December 2009.
(iv) Acquired a bus operating licence on 30 June 2009 to operate routes for the next eight years. The
initial price paid was £480,000. A further £120,000 is payable on 1 January 2010. In addition, the
company directors and senior management spent time (costed at £80,000) in developing the bid.
(v) A major advertising campaign was carried out in the autumn of 2009. The directors believe the
main benefits of this will arise in 2010.
(vi) The accounting policy of the company in respect of intangible assets is as follows.
(a) Amortisation:
On a straight line basis over:
Quota 20 years
Brands 20 years
Patents, licences, etc. remaining legal life when acquired
(b) Valuation:
Intangible assets for which there is an active market are revalued annually.
Required
Explain how each of the above items should be dealt with in the accounts of Entrepreneurial
Enterprises plc for the year to 31 December 2009, and prepare the journal entries to show the
adjustments for each of the items in preparing the accounts to 31 December 2009.
2. Level II
During the course of a year Venture Forth Ltd incurred expenditure on many research and develop-
ment activities. Details of two of them are given below.
Project 3
To develop a new compound in view of the anticipated shortage of raw material currently being used in
one of the company’s processes. Sufficient progress has been made to suggest that the new company can
be produced at a cost comparable to that of the existing raw material.
Project 4
To improve the yield of an important manufacturing operation of the company. At present, material
input with a cost of £100,000 p.a. becomes contaminated in the operation and half is wasted. Sufficient
progress has been made for the scientists to predict an improvement so that only 20% will be wasted.
The directors of Venture Forth Ltd consider that both projects will be successful. In addition, the
company has enough finances to complete both projects and enough capacity to see both projects
through to a successful conclusion.

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Costs incurred during the year were:
Project 3 4
£ £
Staff salaries 5,000 10,000
Overheads (direct) 6,000 12,000
Plant at cost (life 10 years) 10,000 20,000
Required
In relation to IAS 38 Intangible Assets,

(a) define
(i) research, and
(ii) development
(b) say under what circumstances it would be appropriate to defer development expenditure to future
periods
(c) show how the expenditure on Projects 3 and 4 would be dealt with in the balance sheet and profit
and loss account in accordance with IAS 38 Intangible Assets.
3. Level II
Wyse Associates Limited has recently embarked on several projects designed to expand its business in
the future. During the year to 30 June 2009, the following information is available regarding two of the
projects.
Project A
Cost of £80,000 was incurred in substantially improving an existing product with a view to making it
safer and with fewer side effects. Tests were still ongoing at 30 June, but it was hoped to market the
product in time for Christmas 2009. In addition to the above £80,000, a special analysis machine has
been purchased costing £50,000, which has a useful life of four years with a residual value of £10,000.
This will be used to carry out a range of research activities over its useful life.
Project B
The company has spent £60,000 investigating possible alternative raw materials with similar properties
that it could use instead of asbestos. It also purchased a machine to assist in analysing the properties of
various alternative materials, for £30,000. It is the company’s intention to spend another two years
researching into this field. At the end of this time, if the search for an alternative to asbestos has not
proved fruitful, it will research into making asbestos safer to use.
Required
Discuss how the expenditure on Projects A and B would be dealt with in the company’s accounts for
the year to 30 June 2009, and justify your decisions.
4. Level II
Montezemolo Engineering produces highly sensitive thermostatic switchgear for use in aeronautic and
satellite production. As chief accountant at Montezemolo, you have been given the following informa-
tion by the director of research in respect of the year ended 30 September 2009.
Project F550
This project commenced on 1 October 2008. By December 2008, the viability of the project was
confirmed and it was agreed that the final product would be produced for sale. Costs incurred to
30 September 2009 amounted to £200,000, of which 25% relate to research expenditure and 75% to
development expenditure.
Additional further costs to complete the development are £350,000 and these will be incurred in the
year to 30 September 2010. The first sales are expected on 1 October 2010.

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EXERCISES 209
It was necessary to purchase a highly specialised electronic analyser, which was to be used initially to
test production prototypes, then, when production commences, the analyser will be used to ensure the
correct operation of the completed thermostatic switchgear. Given the highly specialist nature of the
analyser it would be used only on Project F550. The analyser was purchased on 1 January 2009 at a cost
of £2,500,000, has an estimated useful life of six years and a forecast residual value of £100,000.
Montezemolo Engineering charges a full year’s depreciation in the year of purchase.
The board of directors considers that this project will be similar to the other projects the company
undertakes and is confident of a successful outcome. Sales forecasts have been prepared following
completion as shown:
£000
Year to 30 September 2011 1,000
It is estimated that the final product would have a sales life of four years.
The company has sufficient finance to complete the development and enough capacity to produce
the new product.
Required
Show how the expenditure on Project F550 would be dealt with in the profit and loss account and
balance sheet of Montezemolo Engineering for each of the years ending 30 September 2009 to
30 September 2014 inclusive. Extract entries only are required.
5. Level II
Main Enterprises Ltd (‘Main’) is a farm management company operating in central Scotland. An
innovative management approach by the directors has seen the diversification of the business into a
number of new areas.
The following information is available in respect of the year ended 31 December 2009.
1. Main purchased a suckler cow quota for 100 cows for £250 per cow on 1 January 2009. There is an
active market for suckler cow quotas, which must be owned to enable an application for subsidy
income to be made. On 31 December 2009, the market value of the quota was £300 per cow.
2. On 1 April 2006, Main acquired an operator’s licence for a fleet of 20 heavy goods vehicles to set
up a haulage division. Main had rented out several of its farm sheds to manufacturing companies
and it had identified a further source of revenue by offering a haulage service to the tenants. The
price paid for the licence, which is for five years, was £3,000 per vehicle. In addition to the initial
price, Main spends £4,000 each year advertising the haulage division. Main received the invoice
for the year ended 31 December 2009 from the advertising agency in January 2010.
3. On 1 July 2007, Main purchased for £28,000 shooting rights which entitle the company to seven
years’ shooting on a nearby estate. The managing director uses this primarily for corporate
entertaining. The rights are non-transferable during the seven-year period and therefore there is
no active market.
4. During the year to 31 December 2009, Main began the development of a new type of organic crop
spray. The costs incurred on this project in the year amounted to £40,000. The book-keeper, who
was unsure how to classify this expenditure, has posted it to a suspense account. The research
manager believes that the product will be both technically feasible and commercially viable.
However, the product is still at an early stage and it is not certain how long it will be before it can
be marketed.
The accounting policy of the company in respect of intangible assets is:
䡲 intangible assets with an active market are revalued on an annual basis
䡲 intangible assets are amortised on a straight line basis over 20 years or their estimated
useful lives, whichever is the lower, on a monthly basis.

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Required
(a) Explain how each of the items 1 to 4 should be dealt with in the accounts of Main for the year
ended 31 December 2009, and prepare the journal entries required.
(b) Prepare the disclosure note in respect of ‘intangible assets’ for inclusion in Main’s financial
statements for the year ended 31 December 2009.
6. Level II
Bartpart plc has 800 hectares of agricultural land among its fixed assets at cost of £4,400,000 as at
30 June 2009.
Due to the general downturn in the agricultural sector, the directors have carried out an impairment
review.
The land has been rented out at an annual rent of £400 per hectare with five yearly rental reviews.
The rent has recently been renegotiated for the five years commencing 1 July 2009 at an annual rent of
£350 per hectare.
Agricultural valuers have estimated that the land would realise £4,000 per hectare on a sale at 1 July
2009.
The required rate of return for Bartpart plc is 7%.
Required
Advise the directors if an impairment has occurred and, if so, provide the accounting entry required to
reflect the impairment in the accounts for the year to 30 June 2009.
Note: land is assumed to have an indefinite life. The rental income should also be indefinite.
7. Level III
CMG Exporting Ltd revalued a tangible fixed asset from net book value £1m (cost £2m, depreciation
£1m) to £2.5m on 31 December 2006. The asset’s remaining useful life is ten years from the date of
revaluation. It is company policy to make reserve transfers annually in respect of the difference between
the depreciation charge on revalued and historical cost amounts. Due to a downturn in economic
conditions, the asset suffered an impairment loss of £1.15m at 31 December 2009.
Required
How should the above be treated in the accounts for the four years from 31 December 2006 to
31 December 2009?
8. Level III
Elimax plc has recently been acquired by a new owner, who has installed a new management team.
Elimax has faced difficult trading activities in the past few years and the new finance director has
doubts about the value of some of the assets on the balance sheet. Elimax consists of two divisions,
which currently employ the following net assets:
Estate agency Public relations

division division
£000 £000
Fixed assets
Tangible 16,750 15,900
Intangible 400 –
Goodwill – 620
17,150 16,520
In addition the company has central tangible fixed assets of £4,500,000. These are estimated to be
equally related to the two divisions. None of the assets has been revalued in the past.

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EXERCISES 211
The intangible asset of the estate agency division relates to the cost of a trade mark acquired from a
competitor several years ago. It is estimated that the trade mark has a net selling price of £380,000.
Both divisions have suffered from under-investment in recent years.
The net fair value of the estate agency division is estimated to be £13,500,000, and £12,000,000 for
the public relations division.
Budgeted pre-tax cash flows for the next four years are as follows:
Estate agency Public relations

£000 £000
Year 1 3,800 4,700

Year 2 3,900 4,750
Year 3 5,500 5,300
Year 4 5,200 6,000
The required rate of return is 14% for both divisions. The significant increases in cash flow will arise
from the impact of the new management team. There will be no significant cash flows from the assets
employed in each division after Year 4.
Required
(a) Calculate the extent of any impairment in either division.

(b) Prepare a schedule of adjustments to the net assets of each division.
Discount factors at 14% are:
Year Factor
1 0.877
2 0.769
3 0.675
4 0.592
9. Level II
Ernon plc has identified an indicated of impairment and is conducting an impairment review. Its
summarised balance sheet at 31 March 2009 is as follows:
£000
Goodwill 600
Property 820
Plant and equipment 730
Net current assets 265
£2,415
Share capital and reserves £2,415
The whole of the company is considered to be a single cash generating unit (CGU). The net current
assets have been valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, and the net realisable value of the
property is £900,000. The plant and equipment is estimated to have a sale value of £115,000. The value
in use is estimated to be £1.4 million.
Required
Calculate whether an impairment loss has occurred and, if so, prepare a revised balance sheet for
Ernon plc 31 March 2009. Explain your workings fully.

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10. Level II
Shankers Ltd has carried out an impairment review of its telecommunications division. The assets
allocated to the division were as follows:
£000
Property, plant and equipment 15,100
Intangible assets 2,300
Goodwill 1,100
£18,500
The net selling price has been estimated at £14m and value in use calculated at £14.4m.
Required
Compare the allocation of any impairment loss in the telecommunications division of Shankers Ltd
under IAS 36 with that under FRS 11.
11. Level II
JAJ Industries plc operates a number of businesses. Evidence suggests that one of these may have
impaired assets. The following information has been obtained:
CGU Construction Haulage Maintenance

£m £m £m
Net selling price 2.5 2.1 2.0
Value in use 2.7 1.7 1.9
In addition to the carrying amount of the assets allocated to the above cash generating units there is
goodwill of £2.3m. The goodwill relates to construction and haulage, but it is not possible to allocate it
between the two. It is estimated that the combined recoverable amount of construction and haulage is
£5.0m.
None of the assets has previously been revalued.
Required
Calculate, and prepare journal entries, for any impairment of:

(a) the individual cash generating units, and
(b) the goodwill relating to construction and haulage.
Further reading
FAS 86 Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased or Otherwise Marketed. FASB
Framework for the Presentation and Preparation of Financial Statements. IASB, 1989
IAS 36 Impairment of Assets. IASB, 2009
IAS 38 Intangible Assets. IASB, 2009
IFRS 3 Business Combinations. IASB, 2008
Logica plc: www.logica.co.uk

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After studying this chapter you should be able to:

standards relating to intangible assets.

Section 1: Basic Principles

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SECTION 1: BASIC PRINCIPLES 157

3.1 The accounting issue involved

Research and development expenditure

Loss for period (£100,000)

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Profit statement (restated)

Profit for period £140,000

The balance sheet would show:

that a new asset is being developed.

3.2 The position in practice

purporting to be the economic reality.

A real-life example will illustrate the problem.

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Loss for period £50,000

Net profit £75,000

the firm and acquired as a result of a past transaction’.

(i) A probable future benefit exists:

(iii) Past transaction:

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can be problematic. Prudence would suggest an immediate write-off.

Progress Point 3.1

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SECTION 2: INTERMEDIATE ISSUES 161

internally generated goodwill.

3.4 Internally generated intangible assets

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When might an asset be created?

that the costs associated with drug testing should be expensed.

3.5 Internally generated goodwill vs internally generated

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3.6 IAS 38 Intangible Assets

intangible asset is identifiable when it:

separable from the entity or from other rights and obligations.

Purchase price £1,000,000

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amount of goodwill on acquisition.

䡲 by self-creation (internal generation).

Recognition under IAS 38

1. Identifiability: this is necessary to distinguish an intangible asset from goodwill.

2. Control: control is exercised by an enterprise over an asset if the enterprise:

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Recognition criteria not met

Progress Point 3.2

following meet the definition of an intangible asset.

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IAS 38 and internally generated intangible assets

to a potential takeover bid.

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SECTION 2: INTERMEDIATE ISSUES 167

Research and development costs